Natural Paua Pearls

[hopepaua]

New Rings , Freeform

[smetzler]

HopePaua,

Very nice pearls. Are these your creations? In any case a thread for Haliotus Iris (vs. Haliotus Misc.) is welcome. Here is a small pendant we acquired together with some loose pearls last year, from New Zealand. It's called "Flower (Springtime)", 1.8cts pearls and 3x.01 diamonds, 18k.

[pattye]

Ahhh, Steve,

Thanks for the fab photo! That is such a delicate and delicious piece in person! The slightly different colors play off each other beautifully!
It was such a pleasure to see it when was in Seattle----

Lovely rings too, HopePaua--nothing quite like those intense colors!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[smetzler]

The slightly different colors play off each other beautifully…Capturing and displaying images here is not only entertaining and educational for the other members, but quite often serves to enhance appreciation of one's own pieces. That's why we all have so much fun doing it! In this case, I am noticing only now how the emerald tones of the pearl on the bottom contribute to the overtones of the pearl in the middle. Fascinating…and thanks for pointing it out!

[GemGeek]

Notice how well the gold ring would go with the pendant? My mind is always looking to make sets! ;)

[knotty panda]

I love how the pendant flows.

[airdancer]

HopePaua,

Very nice pearls. Are these your creations? In any case a thread for Haliotus Iris (vs. Haliotus Misc.) is welcome. Here is a small pendant we acquired together with some loose pearls last year, from New Zealand. It's called "Flower (Springtime)", 1.8cts pearls and 3x.01 diamonds, 18k.

Wow the pendent is delicious! They look like the blue eyris pearl that was mentioned some time ago on the forum - are they?

[smetzler]

Wow the pendent is delicious! They look like the blue eyris pearl that was mentioned some time ago on the forum - are they?Thanks! The pearls in HopePaua's rings and our pendant are natural freeform abalone pearls, 100% nacre. Blue Eyris are mabé (cultured blisters) that use the same abalone species (H. Iris) and thus boast the same range of intense colors.

[Sueki]

Hi Steve,
That's one gorgeous pendant - have to agree with airdancer, it's delicious !
The colours, oh, the colours......
Oh, heavens, I think I'm gonna have to get me a Paua pearl or two....

[hopepaua]

HopePaua,

Very nice pearls. Are these your creations? In any case a thread for Haliotus Iris (vs. Haliotus Misc.) is welcome. Here is a small pendant we acquired together with some loose pearls last year, from New Zealand. It's called "Flower (Springtime)", 1.8cts pearls and 3x.01 diamonds, 18k.

Hi, smetzler.
Thank you .
These are not my creations.
I like you pendant, nice freeforms! Good size pearls too.I always love that paua pearls effect each others colors.

[hopepaua]

Ahhh, Steve,

Thanks for the fab photo! That is such a delicate and delicious piece in person! The slightly different colors play off each other beautifully!
It was such a pleasure to see it when was in Seattle----

Lovely rings too, HopePaua--nothing quite like those intense colors!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

Thank you, Pattye.
I agree!

[nlerner]

It seems that the two rings come from here:

http://www.nzpearl.co.nz/rings.html

[smetzler]

It seems that the two rings come from here…Yes, clearly they have Rob and Denise Wright's (Moana Pearls) fingerprints all over them! 'Flower (Springtime)' is Rob Wright's work.

HopePaua, I trust you won't mind my making an introduction for Pearl-Guiders to these friendly and accommodating (and trustworthy) folks, who have quite a lock on the NZ paua pearl trade due to their exclusive access to pearls as byproduct of the abalone meat processing industry on the Chatham Islands. This has gone on for about 12 years, and the Wrights have amassed an inventory with a retail value going into the millions of dollars.

I had a great time with the Wrights last year selecting the pearls (among others) eventually used in my pin/avatar, subject of this (http://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/natural-pearls/1482-natural-combinations.html) thread. The process is summarized below, from the bags as they came from the Chatham harvest in 2006, to sorting by shapes and color, to final selection—all via photo. (A similar process took place in the Cooks to select the golden poe pipi used in the pin.) Next selection in situ!

Another vendor added to the Pearl-Guide trustworthy list!

[pattye]

Steve,

That gave me goose-bumps! What a small world, and how terrific you can report on your first hand experience with these talented people! It would be lovely if they could occasionally post here-----

Hopepaua, do you work with the Wrights?

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[hopepaua]

I'm glad that people noticed about them. They're suplyer for my business in Japan. Denise told me about this forum and I'd like to be a kind of spokes person for them to introduce the paua pearls to many people!

[hopepaua]

[QUOTE=hopepaua;31122]I'm glad that people noticed about them. I was there with them a few months ago sorting pearls. They're suplyer for my business in Japan. They told me about this forum and I'd like to be a kind of spokes person for them to introduce the paua pearls to many people!

[Heidi]

It's very interesting to know the connections people make in discovering these beautiful pearls. Thank you so much for sharing.

[Caitlin]

LINK (http://www.nzpearl.co.nz/pearls.html) for the Paua page. These folks are well known to a number of members. Will they let you put up their pictures (with LINKs , of course)

[smetzler]

Rob and Denise are very forthcoming and have many followers. In the Google era, all roads for Paua lead to them. Hubert Bari ('The Pink Pearl') is working on a similar book featuring abalone pearls, and we should be seeing many more Paua in glossy hardcover before too long…

[GemGeek]

Rob and Denise are very forthcoming and have many followers. In the Google era, all roads for Paua lead to them. Hubert Bari ('The Pink Pearl') is working on a similar book featuring abalone pearls, and we should be seeing many more Paua in glossy hardcover before too long…

A book dedicated to abalone pearls? I can't wait!!! :cool:

[hopepaua]

Rob and Denise are very forthcoming and have many followers. In the Google era, all roads for Paua lead to them. Hubert Bari ('The Pink Pearl') is working on a similar book featuring abalone pearls, and we should be seeing many more Paua in glossy hardcover before too long…

And also at Paris Natural History Museum have schedule for permanent display of Paua Pearls on 2010.

[hopepaua]

LINK (http://www.nzpearl.co.nz/pearls.html) for the Paua page. These folks are well known to a number of members. Will they let you put up their pictures (with LINKs , of course)


I'm sure they will be happy.

[smetzler]

It is with some angst that I post this image of perfectly matched paua/diamond earrings (with long kelp-inspired backs) that we do not own, nor ever will (custom job sold in France during the World Rugby Cup). Keshi fans might see a future here!

[nlerner]

Thanks for sharing. They are beautiful.

[pearlescence]

The earrings are fabulous. While paua pearls might be beyond me, it would be possible to make something similar with some baroques, I reckon...if only I had the time to work on remembering my silversmithing from 25 years ago

How did they get the photo - I mean how did they get the earrings to stand up like that?

[Pearlgully]

How did they get the photo - I mean how did they get the earrings to stand up like that?

Possibilities: 1- The earrings are hanging on a piece of thread or thin string; or 2- the tip of the ear wire is standing in a "putty". When the films are professionally developed, the thread or putty does not appear in the picture.


Gail

[DFrey]

It looks like the ends of the ear wires are stuck into the paper background and probably there is some rigid foam or cardboard behind the paper that the earwires are stuck in as well which helps to hold them up.

DFrey

[Heidi]

It is with some angst that I post this image of perfectly matched paua/diamond earrings (with long kelp-inspired backs) that we do not own, nor ever will (custom job sold in France during the World Rugby Cup). Keshi fans might see a future here!

Just stunning earrings. Very inspirational for the pearls and the metalsmithing in the design. Thank you for showing us!

[knotty panda]

I vote for clear museum putty then its airbrushed out. Do they still airbrush? Digitally remastered :)? I'd spend that kind of photograhic dollars on those earrings even if they did put diamonds on them.

[hopepaua]

Conicals on parade!

[GemGeek]

That's my kind of parade! Thanks for posting the photos. ;)

[smetzler]

Conicals, teeth, etc are rare, offer a huge color surface and are highly valued by collectors in the larger sizes, primarily as trophies. I've got a couple in my pearl drawer, but what to do with them? Of course, Rob Wright was able to fashion a beautiful pendant, below (estimated value $15,000US just for the pearl—at wholesale). But my solid view is that the smaller freeforms, less appealing to the collectors yet far more versatile (including rare matching opportunities such as the earrings posted earlier) are 'where it's at' for folks like us here…

[GemGeek]

Oooooh, Ahhhhh! :cool:

[Nerida]

Steve, I wish (not really) that you would stop posting photos of such spectacular pieces!! That pendant is just amazing! I think you're right though - the freeforms on the R are far more "where its at" for most of us.. All gorgeous, and the colours!!

[jerin]

Steve,

I like that pendant design very much and your brooch at the start of this thread is beautiful in its colours and the warm tone of the gold - a pity these pearls + gold get soo easily very expensive....

[smetzler]

Steve,

I like that pendant design very much and your brooch at the start of this thread is beautiful in its colours and the warm tone of the gold - a pity these pearls + gold get soo easily very expensive....Pricing is definitely an issue. Paua pricing at origin is calculated on the limited (albeit sustainable) source, and the spectacular (and natural) nature of the pearls themselves. Currently, wholesalers outside of NZ would not be able to offer freeforms much under $400 per carat, and the larger conicals, teeth, etc around $600. For the pearl in the pendant in my prior post, this looks to have a weight somewhere around 30 carats, so actually that's US$18,000, not $15,000 as in my post. That does not include the gold, diamond, one-off uniqueness, etc etc. Again, that's wholesale.

Other abalone offerings, notably the red and green Halioti as seen at Pearl Paradise and Pacific Pearls, are far less expensive. But there is certainly a color difference, in addition to general lack of similar availability of the smaller and more versatile gem-quality freeforms in the 0,5 to 5 carat range.

At least it's fairly unanimous that paua and the resulting jewelry are capable of unsurpassed beauty.

[smetzler]

…matched paua/diamond earrings (with long kelp-inspired backs) that we do not own, nor ever will (custom job sold in France during the World Rugby Cup)Well, it seems New Zealand took pity on me and set to work on a second kelp-themed set of earrings in my honor (title: 'Kelp'). These are 2.07 cts paua with blue tanzanite, 18K.

[robinmce]

Lucky you!!! They are gorgeous!!!
Robin

[Hanaleimom]

Very elegant! You have such an exquisite collection.

[hopepaua]

Which one is your favorite?

[Valeria101]

Tough question... The largest ones would be easier to love in a design suitable for their shapes than stand-alones.

One vote for #3. (could be just because I can imagine a use for it more readily right now)

A larger image and some idea of the size of the pearls would probably get more votes ;)

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9484/bluessi2.png

[Amrita]

Valeria, thanks for putting those numbers in the picture making it easy to point out the pearl of choice! I vote for # 2 because I can see it in my mind as a beautiful dragonfly pendant with gold! :)

[hopepaua]

Tough question... The largest ones would be easier to love in a design suitable for their shapes than stand-alones.

One vote for #3. (could be just because I can imagine a use for it more readily right now)

A larger image and some idea of the size of the pearls would probably get more votes ;)

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9484/bluessi2.png

Hi, Valeria, thank you for numbering. I'm still trying to figure out how to use the computer. I don't know how to enlarge the images though I have measurement so you'll have idea.

#2 is about 5cm (about 2 inches)

I like #3 has magnificent color which does not show well on this photo.
If I were a jeweler, I'd love to make parot pin or something with #3.

Thank you for the vote.

[hopepaua]

Valeria, thanks for putting those numbers in the picture making it easy to point out the pearl of choice! I vote for # 2 because I can see it in my mind as a beautiful dragonfly pendant with gold! :)

Hi, Amarita, thank you for vote.
My favorite is #2 as well. We have dragonfly like this color in Japan. Good idea!

[smetzler]

One vote for #3.Two votes for #3. It has a silky lustre in addition to complex and deep coloration, with minimal apparent surface conchiolin. If the other side is close, it's a wonderful pearl. Considering that Paua pricing per carat at source is unrelated to grading and that freeforms are priced lower than conicals and teeth, I'd consider that pearl even without a plan. At what appears to be 50mm x 25mm x 8mm it should be around 10 carats, so $4,000 or so ($8,000 retail), similar to a perfect SS round or drop in the 13-17mm range. I find myself waffling widely on pricing and value issues for Paua, but well-selected individual pearls can certainly make a case!

[Kevin Canning]

I could see a very cool pendant with #2 or #3 - but paua pearls sure aren't a poor mans game are they :O

[smetzler]

…paua pearls sure aren't a poor mans game are theyFortunately the smaller free forms, in the 0.5 to 2 ct range, are also the most useful. And for the sharp eye, the absence of grading (beyond 'gem quality') as a factor in pricing offers the opportunity to cherry pick.

Eyris Blue mabés, given monopolistic practices both at the production and distribution levels, would make a huge target in terms of relative value. But awareness for paua (H. Iris) as a result of the mabés would appear to be positive.

[Jnorris]

Paua make one of the most vibrant and beautiful of natural pearls as do Green abalone from Southern California and Mexico. The two species produce such a similar combination of color that one can rarely tell the difference. The price on the two species varies depending on source but pearls over 400/ct retail should be of both fine quality and attractive shape. Horn shaped pearls in this price range are rare or overpriced. Any abalone pearl with symmetry is a rarety. Those over 5cts exhibiting beautiful color and luster with symmetrical shape can command prices of up to 2000/ct retail. Commonly they are priced between 400 and 1000 per ct.
The reason that so few small pearls come from green abalone have more to do with processing than production. Many Abalone plants employ low wage labor to process the abalone. If these workers are slow they are fired. This leaves time sufficient for finding larger pearls but not small. Many of the Paua pearls posted on this site have come from a specific source where the owner of the plant has a stake in the pearls. This of course allows sufficient time to find everything
Best Regards.
Jeremy

[smetzler]

Paua make one of the most vibrant and beautiful of natural pearls as do Green abalone from Southern California and Mexico. The two species produce such a similar combination of color that one can rarely tell the difference. The price on the two species varies depending on source but pearls over 400/ct retail should be of both fine quality and attractive shape. Horn shaped pearls in this price range are rare or overpriced. Any abalone pearl with symmetry is a rarety. Those over 5cts exhibiting beautiful color and luster with symmetrical shape can command prices of up to 2000/ct retail. Commonly they are priced between 400 and 1000 per ct.
The reason that so few small pearls come from green abalone have more to do with processing than production. Many Abalone plants employ low wage labor to process the abalone. If these workers are slow they are fired. This leaves time sufficient for finding larger pearls but not small. Many of the Paua pearls posted on this site have come from a specific source where the owner of the plant has a stake in the pearls. This of course allows sufficient time to find everything Jeremy,

Thanks for a post too dense with commentary to highlight. I've consistently called for symmetry (as in: what do we do with La Catalina?). Your comments also serve to reinforce the uniqueness of the Paua situation in the Chathams, in that similar recovery processes are not being practiced elsewhere.

I have introduced per carat source pricing in this thread to provide a frame of reference for forum members who might be seeing groupings of abalone pearls for the first time. Your $2,000/carat will keep me 'picking cherries' for some time to come!

[New Zealand Natural Pearl]

3970

3971

3972

3973
We would like your thoughts on the attached photos.
Denise

[smetzler]

Denise,

Welcome and nice to 'see' you here on Pearl-Guide!

Photo #4 with the strange creature would be welcome on another recent thread here called 'Abalone Gone Buggy.' #2 looks like an unusually high number of small free forms in one shell. #3 horn shape appears to be a blister?

[J Marcus]

Thoughts? I'll venture some guesses. The first one looks to me to be a cultured blister. It looks just too perfect to be natural. The second looks to me to be, perhaps, some of the more or less imbedded-in-the-shell solid pearls that I've read about having been found in some abalones down under. I believe I've read of them occurring both in New Zealand and in at least one bay in Australia. If I'm right, then they are solid and associated with a parasite burrowing in the shell. It also looks to me as though at least one of them could be a blister. The third one I have very little idea what to make of. It looks like one of the "horn" or "tooth" pearls found in abalones, but, as Smetzler mentioned, seems to be attached to the shell. If I were to venture a guess about the fourth one. I would say that it might be the result of a toredo clam that never got very well glued down by the conchiolin that the abalones seem to pile on them to cement them in place and stop them from continuing to bore. Perhaps it repeatedly kept boring through the nacre and getting covered repeatedly with nacre by the abalone when it did. Maybe. ...or not . . . ? I have one that looks like the neck, head and beak of an Ibis, but, though quite long, it's not a "traveling" pattern like yours and Was located up under the lip that runs along the side with the breathing holes. Do we win a prize if we have the right answers?:cool: An abalone pearl would seem appropriate--just a small one, maybe? :D

J. Marcus
http://wwwflyrodjewelry.com/home.html

[smetzler]

Do we win a prize if we have the right answers?I think your guesses deserve a prize!

[New Zealand Natural Pearl]

4018

Well Done J. Marcus (This is your Prize) A Natural Pearl
Trout Fly
Answers are:
1 A natural formed Round Blister (The most perfect we have seen)
2 This is a weather incident.
Exterior forces have damaged the foot of the Paua allowing particles
to gather underneath the meat to form pearls.
3. Conical. Once again caused by shell damage where the membrane
between the roe and the exterior has been damage and the roe
sack has been exposed and therefore covered with Nachre.
4. Foreign body - We think Crab claw. Got stuck and nachre covered.

It is reassuring to us the interest in Natural Pearl. We believe for
every million that is cultured one natural pearl is formed making
ours valuable each day.

[pattye]

That was fascinating! And I couldn't even begin to guess------if that isn't the most adorable trout fly ever, I don't know what is!!!! A perfect prize!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Amrita]

I agree with Pattye that this is so fascinating.... thanks so much for posting these natural wonders....amazing!

[smetzler]

Good show, JMarcus. And a fabulous lesson from NZ Natural Pearls.

[J Marcus]

I thought that the fine folks at New Zealand Natural Pearl were making a particularly good joke when they posted the picture of the delightful "Pearl Head Nymph" trout fly. Imagine my surprize when I received an email from them letting me know that it is on it's way here by mail!! Especially since I managed to get all four of the pictures wrong! Well--I'm a life long fly fisher and tyer and will treasure this fly always! How very appropriate. I just wanted for all the P. G. forum folks to know of the good-humored generosity of the people at New Zealand Natural Pearl as well as express my gratitude to them on the forum.

J. Marcus
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

[smetzler]

How incredibly appropriate!

[Kevin Canning]

Well Done J. Marcus (This is your Prize) A Natural Pearl
Trout Fly


I love it! I can picture a perfect "egg sucking leech" now with a lavender FWP for the "egg" with one of those monster NZ browns on the end now.

Any other flies to show us?

[New Zealand Natural Pearl]

4099
This is a THREAD of natural abalone pearls from New Zealand.
You can see it is not finished may take another few years
but it is gorgeous. Hope you all enjoy, our pleasure.
Denise

[smetzler]

'Enjoy' doesn't begin to describe the awe this strand-in-progress inspires…

An incredible contribution!

[GemGeek]

Such a treasure! ;)

[J Marcus]

It's here! It's here! The lovely fly pictured earlier in this thread has arrived and it's truly a beauty! Rob and Denise outdid themselves and my fly showed up yesterday in it's own royal red pouch with a certificate and other materials. As soon as I am able I'll post a picture or two. It's such fun! Well, Well--now, how to reciprocate. . . Certainly they have my fondest gratitude!

J Marcus
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

Life's a beach and then you flounder--Hopefully you land among the pearls. . .

[jerin]

Congratulations!

[J Marcus]

I love it! I can picture a perfect "egg sucking leech" now with a lavender FWP for the "egg" with one of those monster NZ browns on the end now.

Any other flies to show us?

This doesn't fit the pearl theme, but it's a fly!:D The hook is a design by Bill Lynch of Fairhaven Gold and I tied the fly on it. It sold recently at a fund raising auction for the Wild Fish Society here in Washington State. I'm working on the pearl fly theme, though. I'll post 'em when I got 'em.:cool:

J. Marcus
http://flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

[Nerida]

NZ pearls - thanks for the gorgeous photo of the unfinished strand. Any idea of retail value? The colours are scrumptious!

[smetzler]

NZ pearls - thanks for the gorgeous photo of the unfinished strand. Any idea of retail value? The colours are scrumptious!Would take this one step at a time. NZ Pearls, may we know the total carat weight of the pearls selected to date?

[New Zealand Natural Pearl]

4173
Unsure of price for the natural abalone pearl necklace.
Will value once finished!!!! it is even more beautiful
than the photo. So is this ring
Denise

[jerin]

Lovely ring!

[Mervione]

Paua is the same as Abalone, right?

[Nerida]

Would take this one step at a time.

Hey Steve, I'm a woman -when it comes to beautiful things, I just want to know if it's within my reach or not! Of course though, you are right - NZ pearls - what length has been gathered so far, and what sizes are those gorgeous pearls? It is such a pretty piece, even without being completed.

[Sueki]

Sigh,
These pearls are so beautiful...

[richipat]

I agree with Sueki --- :o~ sigh~:o

[smetzler]

Paua: This is the Maori name for Haliotis Iris, the intensely colored variety of abalone native to the cold waters of NZ and Chatham Islands.

Value: Much can happen between now and the eventual sale of this totally unique necklace. So we are forced to speculate—a position strongly in favor of the seller!

[Caitlin]

Thanks for the delicious photos Denise! Keep them coming! Like others. I want to know more details about both the ring and necklace

[New Zealand Natural Pearl]

4323
Sorry about delay with replying.
The necklace weighs 28ct so far. We are
adding pearls as we find them. Will post
completed ONE day.
The ring is 18ct yellow gold with diamond
1.6ct natural abalone gem grade pearl. Value $1600.00U.S.
The attached selection of natural abalone freeforms weighs
16.53ct - Beautiful colours. Posting a new bug on
"Gone Buggy" today or tomorrow - watch out

[J Marcus]

My--the selection of naturals above is absolutely georgeous! Could you give us an idea of the range of sizes (mm) in that little group?

Marc
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

[New Zealand Natural Pearl]

The gold pearl on the far left is 2.21ct and 1.3 c.m.

[New Zealand Natural Pearl]

[ATTACH]4382[/AT
TACH]
Here are some interesting pieces we call WING Shape.
These are formed in very interesting way.
Does anyone have any idea? - There may be a prize.
Are these wing shapes common in the Califorian or Mexican
Abalone.?

[J Marcus]

I would have to say that the type of pearl formation you show there is definitely not common in the Pacific--at least in my experience. I do have a very few shells that show at least the beginnings of formations like what is in the whole shell that you have posted, but I don't think that any of them are quite grown to that extent--with the possible exception of one that showed up in a Pinto abalone (H. Kamchatkensis [not sure of spelling. . . ]) of all things. They have quite thin shells. I only know the present whereabouts of a couple of them but as soon as I can find and photo them I'll post pictures. (It may take a while.) As for their cause I'm unsure, though it does seem that they are associated with parasites or some other pathology. I have at least one shell where it looks like the abalone has tried to create a separate layer to the shell inside of the original. Very interesting. It looks like the separate ones that you show may have been cut off of the shell. Am I right? My--you certainly have some interesting anomolies. Have you found anything like my "berry blisters?"

Marc
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

[blue pearl]

In my experience this type of pearl formation is quite common in the Pacific.
It is probably caused buy physical damage or something foreign.
Paua have pearls (natural) or blisters that are caused mostly by physical damage or a reaction to something they don't like against the inner body of the paua.Animals that bore in from the outside of the shell to create natural pearls or blisters is not something I have seen in paua.

[GemGeek]

Marc, do you mean the Pacific Ocean off the coast of North America or the whole enchilada? ;)

[J Marcus]

Oh! Sorry--I guess the Pacific does take in a lot of territory! :o Specifically, I meant the west coast of the United States and what I have seen of abalones from the Pacific coast and Baha California in Mexico. My experience with the abalones from Mexico is somewhat limited, though. :(

In looking through a couple of boxes of shells in my "stash," I came up with 1 broken shell that looks almost like the abalone tried to build a shell inside of a shell with a space in between! Very odd--I have no idea what caused that. :confused: I know I have one or two where the mollusc has built out a separate layer on the inside of the outside "lip" of the shell but none nearly as pronounced as pictured above. I also have a couple where it has built out what look like "fins" or "struts" further inside the shell but still on the "lip" side. (:cool:How's that for technical. . . ?) Well--when I can find more of those examples I'll get some photos and post them. They are all a puzzle to me. Some seem to be associated with parasites and others don't. There's lots of biting, stinging, burrowing and just plain irritating creatures and plants in the ocean. From what I've seen, it would be very easy for some of them to gain entrance via the "vent" holes (another technical term. . .) and cause problems for the abalone. :eek:

Additional thought: I just noticed that there are a couple of notches on the outside of the shell pictured above, just about dead center on where the "wing" is located. These look very consistent with damage from parasites (usually Toredo clams) on the edge of quite a few of the shells that I have. Perhaps the Paua has a little different method of dealing with these creatures?

Marc
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home/html

[GemGeek]

It sounds like you have enough shells to make abalone jewelry for a long time -- what fun! ;)

[J Marcus]

It sounds like you have enough shells to make abalone jewelry for a long time -- what fun! ;)

Well--yes. After 15+ years of searching for the blisters, I do have a few. (Boxes. . . ) ...and I'm just starting into putting some jewelry together. It's kind of exciting. I have some really cool ones.

I haven't had time to dig out the shell that sort of compares to the shell that New Zealand Natural Pearl posted above, but I had couple of interesting ones at hand so this evening I ran out and photo'd some on the hood of my old truck.

The first one is just a part of a shell that shows where the inside and the outside of the rim are starting to part ways. The rest of it must not ave been noteworthy since I don't seem to have it anymore.

The next one is an end on view of the partial shell (I never saw the rest of it.) where the inside and the outside layers of the shell are seperated with space between them.

The third one is an inside-the-shell view of the same showing how far this void extends. Quite a puzzle, I would say.

Now my curiosity is piqued and I'm trying to figure all this out. Fat chance. . .

Marc
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

[New Zealand Natural Pearl]

4549
Here is a fine example of Shell borer. The beginning of the
creation of a natural blister Pearl.
One the outside of the shell - note the hole
Inside a beautiful natural blister.
This is the most common way these pearls are formed In New Zealand.

[GemGeek]

It's really interesting to see the funky shells when I've only seen fairly good ones. An education! Thanks, Marc.

And NZ Natural Pearl, that is fascinating-- and again, something I haven't had the chance to see. ;)

[J Marcus]

That's really a beautiful blister--almost looks too good to be natural! I would be interested in knowing what the shell borer you refer to is. Is it a toredo clam (shipworm) or something else? From my reading of historical references from the days of wooden ships, it seems that these creatures lived in all of the oceans. The only reference I have seen referring to their not living in a specific saltwater area was to an ancient ship brought up from the depths of a fiord in Norway where fresh water from river(s?) reduced the salinity to a point that they weren't able to colonize and destroy the wood. I have noted, however, that I haven't seen any evidence of them in Puget Sound (not saying that they're not here.) and as well, the shells that I have obtained of the Green Abalone, Haliotis fulgens, that seems to reside mostly south of the U. S. border in the Bahia de California latitudes, is parasitized by a clam that seems to have a longer, more spearhead-shaped shell that also seems to lie more typically aligned quite parallel to the abalone shell. Perhaps there is more than one species referred to as the Toredo clam.

Blaire: The things I'm searching for are far more likely to occur in the funky ones! In fact, some of the best ones I've come across were so parasitized that it's hard to understand how they survived so long!

Marc
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

[Miriam Reed]

HopePaua,

Very nice pearls. Are these your creations? In any case a thread for Haliotus Iris (vs. Haliotus Misc.) is welcome. Here is a small pendant we acquired together with some loose pearls last year, from New Zealand. It's called "Flower (Springtime)", 1.8cts pearls and 3x.01 diamonds, 18k.

Hi, I'm new to the forum - have just been visiting quietly for a few months, but I have to say I love this pendant!

[smetzler]

Miriam,

Welcome and thanks for the nice comment, which should convince my wife to wear the piece more often!

Steve