[NorCalChef]

Found this a few years back while diving off the coast of my home town of Fort Bragg on the Mendocino coast, any ideas what it may be worth or whom I could contact for info? It's about 13x4 cm and weighs 175 carats (uncut, unpolished). Thanks in advance.

[Caitlin]

Hi Norcal

That is really beautiful. We have 2 member who buy and sell abalone J Norris (contact him through PM or email) and Pacific Coast Peaarls.

I think your pearl is very pretty and will fetch a high price. Pacific Coast Pearls has a least a dozen abalone pearls made into the tail for mermaids, the rest of the mermaid in gold, I think your pearl will be fantasic set in a larger piece.

The link above goes to a page of brooches featuring Abalone pearls at Pacific Coast Pearls.

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

Pacific Coast Pearls has a least a dozen abalone pearls made into the tail for mermaids...

I believe those were cone-shaped pearls. The one in the pictures looks like a mabe or a thin, flat pearl.

Like those used HERE and HERE

[NorCalChef]

Thanks a lot for the info, but I already contacted Tish & Wes at Pacific Coast Pearls and she said it's a nice pearl, but because it is so large only a collector would be interested in it. They have dozens of these large ones, but they are hard to sell because they are too big for jewelry use. I might have some interested buyers, the problem is that I have no idea what a fair price would be for it, having seen nothing like it before, I don't want to get ripped off.

[knotty panda]

Too big for jewelry? In what universe? Think about how you would like your prized possession displayed, it's your baby and you know it best. Give it some thought and see what you can come up with.

P. S. I think it would gorgeous lengthwise on a very simple chain. It carries it's own beauty and needs no embellishment. Or, if that doesn't strike your fancy, how about a belt buckle! Talk about one unique piece!

[Caitlin]

I would talk to Tish or Wes again and ask their range of per-gram prices. Tish and Wes have some very large ones- What did they pay or value them at?

Have you contacted jnorriss yet?

Maybe make it into a cowboy belt buckle? (I guess that wouldn't help if you are not a Cowboy........)

[NorCalChef]

I contacted JNorris yesterday and he pretty much told me the same thing, that because of it's size it would have more value to a collector than to a jeweler. But he did give me a approx. dollar value so I at least have an idea of what its worth is, (coincidently, I found out he only lives a few miles away from me). Funny thing is that my family has lived in this area for 4 generations and we/they have always rock picked or dive for abalone, I couldn't even tell you how many pearls that were thrown away, given away or just plain ignored over the years for not knowing the value of them. The abalone that produced this pearl also had another pearl in it (oval, about half the size of a marble) that was given away to a friend and later sold for a tidy sum. Oh well, hind sight is alway 20-20, thanks for all the information and help everybody, I'm going to keep checking in here daily for any updates.

[smetzler]

There are now a couple of threads here dealing with the vagaries of abalone pearls—Caitlin, myself and others trying in vain to devine the value of their oddball shapes and sizes. It's an incredibly difficult proposition, and forum trade members are the most vague of all, having experienced—despite a pernicious fascination—the lack of demand for these supposedly rare items (thus their relegation to jewellery sculpture and other dead-end museum pieces).

My newcomer's view is that abs are valuable only insofar as the intensity of their overtones (blue/green/peacock), and their usefulness. Intensity of color and good taste demand prudent size and shape/symmetry. The attached photo is ample evidence that a selection of such freeform and workable pearls can be found.

It would be great to see the pros take a more proactive role (like Jeremy Shepherd with his untreated freshwaters from China) to refine this category for wider appreciation and application.

Steve
Seattle

[NorCalChef]

Well, I put it on Ebay starting at $1500, we'll see where it goes...

[pattye]

Hi NorCalChef!

Easy to find your listing searching under red abalone pearl! I buy on ebay a lot, and I am hoping you won't mind my comments. You seem to have some good photos. They need to be larger and clear enough to show the colors you say are in your pearl. Also indicate which photos show the back of your pearl. Also please give the thickness through the middle. You might take a look at DruzyDesign Treasures store's photos, just as an example, she sells high end items, multiple photos with clearly shown colors. I know from my limited photo trials, not easy, at least for me to do! Don't get discouraged if it doesn't sell right away, you may need to relist. That seems like a fair price, it looks like it would make an interesting piece of jewelry!!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[smetzler]

The price is in line with reports I've heard originating with abalone fishermen, who are generally offered in the range of $10 per carat by the trade for gem quality, in this case starting slightly lower (for 175ct), presumably because NorCal has been advised that the Red range of overtones will not attract quite the same amount of interest as blue/green. So for the right buyer this appears to represent a good opportunity.

Steve
Seattle

[NorCalChef]

Thanks for all the information, I will re-list if it doesn't sell with the suggestions/changes you offered.

[Caitlin]

Hi NorCal

Please post the link to your auction here to make it easy for us to find. I wish you the best for it.

[NorCalChef]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Red-Abalone-Pear...QQcmdZViewItem

[Caitlin]

Hi Nor Cal

Good Luck