The Great Big Pearl Information & Picture Thread

[Japster]

Since the other thread was getting so big, I thought I would start a new one to ease some band width.

This is a thread for new & old fans of those fabulous lustrous balls we call pearls. Feel free to post pics and info or simply chat about balls big and small.

First up.... What is a Pearl?
A pearl is a an organic gemstone. It is a calcareous concretion produced by a mollusk as a defense response to an intrusion in it's inner tissues. A mollusk can be a bivalve (two shells with a hinge closure)such as a clam, oyster, mussel and it can also be a gastropod such as a snail or a cephalopod such as octopus or squid. It's of interest to note that other animals and even people can produce "calcereous concretions"--- the human form is a kidney stone.

Types of pearls:
Freshwater and Marine (those from saltwater) are the pearls that we are most familiar with.

Some examples of pearls:

Tahitian Cultured Pearls
Marine Pearl, From the Pinctada Margaritifera Mollusk. The colors range from Grays to blues, aubergine, greens, pistachio-peacock with reddish and magenta overtones.




South Sea Cultured Pearls
Marine Pearls From the Pinctada Maxima Mollusk
Colors range from Whites to Silvers to Buttery Golden Yellow with overtones of greenish, silver and pink.


These are various Natural Pearls (not cultured)that are also non-nacreous.
Conch Pearls from the Giant Conch Snail

From the Quahog Clam

[Japster]

What is a cultured Pearl?
99% of the pearls on the market these days are cultured. This includes freshwater, Tahitian and South Sea varieties.

In the 1800's and 1900's, divers from pearl schooners gathered oysters with naturally formed pearls. In many areas the oyster population was devastated to almost extinction. Man eventually stepped in to help nature along and save the mollusk populations.

Pearls are formed when an irritant, such as sand or bacteria gets inside an oyster and it reacts by producing thick nacre that coats the irritant. In the early 1900’s, man learned how to artificially replicate this spontaneous occurrence and thus "Pearl Farming" was born. Today nearly 99% of the pearls in the jewelry market are cultured and many of the local governments farmers regulate and protect the mollusks, ensuring the oyster population exists in perpetuity.

Here are some oysters at a Tahitian Pearl Farm


Here is a Pinctada Margaritifera Mollusk being Nucleated with a seed:


Here are some Dinner Plate Size South Sea Pearl Oysters (Pinctada Maxima) being turned in their baskets:

[Japster]

Freshwater Pearls
Hyriopsis Cumingii

This is from artist John Nels Hatleberg and was made with woven 18K gold wire and 'cobs' of Freshwater pearls.

[sjunky13]

Thank you so much for this. It helps alot to understand. I wonder what you think of Mikimoto? I purchased a pair of earrings from them. They do have a small blemish. Im sure I paid for the name. I hear there diamonds they use were of good quality. What do you think? TIA

[HauteMama]

Are natural octopus or squid "pearls" valuable, or are they more similar to kidney stones (i.e. not beautiful to look at)? And thank you for starting this thread; it is nice to have a new one as the other is getting quite long.

[Japster]

Here is a Size Chart and a Shape Chart I made:

[Japster]

Originally Posted by HauteMama

Are natural octopus or squid "pearls" valuable, or are they more similar to kidney stones (i.e. not beautiful to look at)? And thank you for starting this thread; it is nice to have a new one as the other is getting quite long.

They don't have any marketable value but I have seen them for sale for $5 or so in various places. They are not very pretty to look at.
Crayfish also make pearls, though mostly they crumble right away in the hand.

Scallop pearls- I forgot to mention them before... they are really pretty too.

[Japster]

Originally Posted by sjunky13

Thank you so much for this. It helps alot to understand. I wonder what you think of Mikimoto? I purchased a pair of earrings from them. They do have a small blemish. Im sure I paid for the name. I hear there diamonds they use were of good quality. What do you think? TIA

Sjunky- Those earrings are GORGEOUS! I am conflicted on Mikimoto. I really love all he did for the pearl industry but their items are so high. No matter what they tell you in the store, you can get the very same high quality pearls elsewhere and usually for more than half the price.

However, Their designs are very high quality and usually very progressive.
And what matters most is whether you like the design and if you are happy! ---And how couldn't you be with such gorgy earrings?!

[FlgirlFM]

I would love to post my new favorite strand, although both my Tahitian strands from Japster get equal neck time!!!

Multicolor Tahitians. I call them my Klonkers. They are blemished as you can see in the close up, but the colors are wonderful and the imperfections just fade away on the neck. I don't have them in front of me right now, but if I remember correctly they are 11-14mm or so. I have to admit I feel like I stole them from Elana because the price was so incredible

[FlgirlFM]

These are so completely wonderful!!!!!! Multicolor pastel Tahitians with gorgeous luster (the earrings are mine).



Here is my other favorite strand...

[FlgirlFM]

In fairness to non Tahitians here are a couple of my other strands that see the light of day every once in a while:

First up, Freshadama 7-8mm. Beautiful luster, lovely pearls, I always receive lots of compliments.




A couple of 100" strands I wear out to dinner. The first was strung and knotted by me, the second by an ebay vendor. The first strand is made with keishi whites, keishi metallics and freshwater white klonks. It is super heavy, so I don't wear it often. Also, I think a taller woman would pull it off much better. It is a substantial piece. The second strand is white FW 6-7mm.

[liz4382]

Pretty! I am new here, so I hope I attach pictures right.

First, my new freshadama earrings...7.5-8 mm.

[liz4382]

Hmm...looks like I need to change the file sizes on my pictures! More to come tomorrow!

Forgot to add on the first post, the freshadamas are from www.pearlparadise.com.

(BTW, Japster, all your pearls are beautiful!)

[Candice0985]

Hi Japster! thanks for the new thread I agree the other one was getting very long, I bought a pair of white akoya studs 9mm but I am thinking of upgrading to the 10mm. Do you think the one mm is really noticeable or worth the switch? I love the studs I have but debated between the two sets for a while
let me know what you think, do they have enough "ear coverage" for an everyday pair or studs? TIA sorry in advance for the bad quality pics I took them with my cell
pearl1.jpg
pearl2.jpg

[oranGetRee]

thanks for posting the photos on "cultured pearls" and the farm. Very interesting
I always love tahitians but couldn't afford to buy a strand. Need to save up!

Candice, I thought the current size you have looks good. You can wear them to work everyday.