[smetzler]

Originally Posted by GemGeek

The photo I posted is from Paspaley's "specials" in the Darwin office, a museum quality collection of incredible pearls that could be for sale if the right price came along.

Is it a cultured pearl, keshi, or…?

[pattye]

That magnificent Paspaley pearl is probably a keshi or natural, do you remember, Blaire? No doubt, I would feel haute looking at them too!

I agree, can't say I have seen water in any of my Sea of Cortez pearls either.
Perhaps in some of the "white" ones? I don't have any of those.

Almudena was wearing a Sea of Cortez keshi bracelet the day I met her and Steve. Now I am wishing I had taken a closer look to see if I could observe water. The orient was magnificent, however, and very colorful!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[GemGeek]

Water is really, really rare. Its absence is not an indicator of a lack of quality on the part of the pearl. You are more likely to see it on naturals, probably due to the fact that the oyster was completely undisturbed.

Some of the specials were keshi and some were nucleated. There were nucleated pearls that had water, but they had something like a 50% coating of nacre, so they might as well have been naturals.

I truly wish I could have hid you guys in my pocket so you could have seen the workrooms. I'll never forget the experience.

By the way, did I tell you that I waitressed at a mine tour yesterday?

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by pattye

Almudena was wearing a Sea of Cortez keshi bracelet…

As I first truly appreciated your keshi bracelet 'La Almudena' (or perhaps more properly, 'Poe Te Almudena') under the close scrutiny of the lens, a photo session is merited on the Cortez keshis. Should be able to get to this early next week!

[pattye]

Blaire,

Were you at the tourmaline mines??????

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[pattye]

Steve,

That will be great to have photos of the keshi bracelet! Thanks in advance!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time