[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by smetzler

...naturals as they are a non-renewable resource. ...Details abound no doubt among Slraep's 'unmentionables.'

l thought that 'renewable resources' are all the rage these days rather than un-mentionable

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by jshepherd

The nacre on those giant pearls is sure to be extremely thick, but large single nucleus is used.

How thick?

There is a shell, the Quadrula quadrula, which can produce large beads. Striations are ok as the nacre is thick enough to hide them. I have never heard of anyone using 2 halves. You can see how they are created here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iaMjIc9V4g

Yes there are companies that manufacture glued MOP nuclei. They are cut from p. maxima though and can be as big as 20mm. Whether they are perfect halves, I don't know. But they do exist and surgical quality glue is used. Boy, the quadrula must be some big mollusk.

Slraep

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by Slraep

Boy, the quadrula must be some big mollusk.

Not really, but they sure are armored: super thick shells with even thicker ribs through them, more like a slab of rock than shell. Didn't know they are used for pearl nucleii, but no surprise there.

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by knotty panda

And SS is more of an attention grabber than natural.

Not sure of that, at least considering the relative amount of headlines, LOL!

Other than this forum a couple of months ago... I haven't really heard of any 'competition' between natural and cultured pearls.

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by Valeria101

l thought that 'renewable resources' are all the rage these days rather than un-mentionable

No argument!

Steve
Seattle

[knotty panda]

Originally Posted by smetzler

The industry itself cannot promote naturals as they are a non-renewable resource. Thus demand is shaped (à la DeBeers).
Steve
Seattle

That is precisely what I wanted to say, except, I didn't know how to say it. Thanks!

[Caitlin]

Here is a picture of quadula quadrula