How about them? What and where have you guys seen, tried or boutgh ?

I am quite innocent on the subject, other than seeing these softly pastel-colored things turn up in the most incredible forms of jewelry and ... that's pretty much the only context I even heard of them. Are they truly rare or just not very popular with conservative jewelers?

Here's what I am talking about - not yellows: LINK

[Caitlin]

First off- I'll move this thread to the CFW section as those are not south sea pearls, they are freshwater.

I can't get past the price.

For that price I could go to China first class, stay in 5 star hotels and still buy a piece like that!

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

I can't get past the price.
For that price I could go to China first class, stay in 5 star hotels and still buy a piece like that!

The link was wrong. Now it was corrected (a necklace of drop-shaped pearls and diamonds).

The price? 'Bet they are not three thousand times better than anything else. Does it even matter ... if anyone shops by price alone, blessed be. The Rau collection is quite an interesting line up. Would have never known what the black freshwater were about - for example - if it wasn't for the presentation of them here!

.

Hi Valerie,

Your link is to a freshwater klonk not a South Sea one. My primary source has been a university-rented set of ponds in Heilongjian with a selection from other sources and a recent eBay find thrown in for good measure. The pearls are solid nacre, untreated and somewhat reminiscent of Kasumigaura pearls but not quite as textured. Size range is 11mm minimum at the clasp and 12.5mm maximum for the center pearl in the largest strand. Most are in the 11.1-11.8mm range.

Examples:

Hi Valerie,

Even though in the updated link it says South Sea, they are freshwater pearls, too, and it clearly says so in the body copy. I suspect they may be from the Heilongjian project where we grew transgrafts. Mine are round and bigger, and rest assured Caitlin, the prices are a steal for these. The reason is probably that they are the less desirable exotic colors and relatively small (up to 12mm like the multi-pinks). Danuta's rose gold klonk is substantially bigger and a highly desirable color. If there had been enough to market I could probably retire on the proceeds from a single strand. Anyway, I have already posted pictures of my other klonks.

Zeide

[Caitlin]

That second link is for freshwater pearls also.

Originally Posted by Zeide Erskine

Hi Valerie,

The pearls are ...somewhat reminiscent of Kasumigaura pearls but not quite as textured.

I think that very strand was labeled 'Kasumiga' at some point - and probably are from that source. As far as I know, there were (are?) round & smooth kasumiga, not textured. Do you refer to something subtle when you mention their texture or coarseness like in semi-baroque pearls?

The idea that someone might be making round 'solid nacre' freshwaters with polished low-grade pearl cores make me shudder right now! Great idea that...

Given that the colors and quality is getting allot more available, it does sound like the first to get on the bandwagon with exclusive frewswater types were fined a pretty penny for their enthusiasm! (Link to 1997 JCK article)

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

That second link is for freshwater pearls also.

I see... that' rather intriguing.

Makes sense, of course. Even at that price, they could not have been the only ones and there was never a lab report. Ha!

[Caitlin]

HI Valeria
Yes it is the right link. They are FW, so I moved the whole thread and renamed it.

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

HI Valeria
Yes it is the right link. They are FW, so I moved the whole thread and renamed it.

It took a while to get that... Thanks!

Hell! The source points it out clearly! "A multi-color, South Sea, entirely comprised of freshwater pearls ..."

Originally Posted by Zeide Erskine

Hi Valerie,

Even though in the updated link it says South Sea, they are freshwater pearls, too, and it clearly says so in the body copy. I suspect they may be from the Heilongjian project where we grew transgrafts. ..
Zeide

Definitely intriguing! Could it be that the pearl growers you mention would be into their first publicity campaign?

Last year's Cartier summer adds sported the first such pearls I ever came across - not only the pearls were similar, but also the deign. Now there are a handful on offer (that's a discount!).

Hi Valerie,

As a sponsor of the project I got the pick of the litter and a say in what nucleation techniques and tissue sources to pursue. So I have the cream of the crop. The rest went to the researchers themselves as a bonus payment. Apparently they found themselves somebody who is willing to market them at what they are really worth. And that is a lot. These are not your common type of Chinese freshwater cultured pearl. They have a magic glow that I have yet to see in any other freshwater cultured pearl and I got some serious klonks in round out of that project, too. Not to mention that a focus area of research was to culture exotic colors on purpose.

The attached picture shows a strand of transgrafted Indonesian maximas of 10+-11+mm.

Zeide

And here is round rose gold klonk (12-just under 14mm) the 10mm strand in tissue-only cultured padparadschas is only for size and color comparison.

Zeide