Hi Pearlers,
Yes, I did open it up and clean it out. Like the majority of natural blister pearls, It was too thin and therefore fragile to not clean it out and fill it with a resin for durability. The space contained the remains of a large Toredo Clam--otherwise known as a "Shipworm." Most of these seem to be "glued" in place by copious amounts of conchiolin, apparently serving to prevent the clam from moving, boring further and doing more damage. This one appears to have been a precociously strong one that seems to have broken loose more than once and continued to bore and grow.
I did take quite a while completing this. It was as much a result of my anxiety about damaging it during the cleaning-out as from anything else...
I'm interested in hearing honest feedback about this baby. I'm always grateful for the kudos, but if there is something that anyone doesn't like about what I've done here, than I would be glad to hear that as well. I promise not to be offended.
Best regards,
J Marcus
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/buyabalonemabes.html