[Jerry]

Hello all, I found a pearl in a clam during dinner at a restaurant (clams oreganata!). It is approximately 10mm in diameter. It is practically round and white. I am not sure what to do with it, and I do not know what it is worth. I live in Northern New Jersey, is there someone I could take it to to have it appraised? Thanks!

[Caitlin]

Hi Jerry
Are clams oreganata cooked or raw? Cooked pearls are most often worthless. If it is an uncooked Quahog pearl, there really isn't enought of a market to say what they are worth. I have heard that Antoinette Maitlins is gathering quahog information, but have no idea what she is doing with it.

[Jerry]

The "clams oreganata" pearl was most definately cooked. I just thought it was really strange to find a pearl in one! I just wanted to know if it was worth anything at all.

[Caitlin]

I doubt it is worth much. One person who had a found quahog pearl put it in a tiny bottle to protect it and kept it for fun. Quahog pearls do not like to be drilled at all, so jewelry made with them needs to embrace the pearl with prongs or something like that.

[Texan]

Jerry,

I don't pretend to know a lot about pearls, but now that you know the name of this (quahog pearl), I suggest you do some googling to find out more. From what I read, you absolutely cannot drill these, as the outer part is much too fragile.

To see some pictures of these, and a bit about their uses in the past, and what some others have done with these in more recent times, you can take a look at one of the posts on this board, here: http://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=121

[Jerry]

Caitlin & Texan, Thanks so much for your insight and advice. I will keep the pearl as a momento.
Jerry

[Alex K.]

I was shoking quahogs from jamestown Rhode island over last summer and i came across a pearl it is white a little off shade and shinny. I know its a pearl and i know it came from a quahog there is an imprent in the shell where it grew around the pearlThe pearl is about a quarter of the size of a dime and it is almost heart shaped and kind of flat on one side i know nothing about it and i was wondering if anyone would know how much it it worth or how much you think it is worth you can email me if you want at buckmaster777b@aol.com with any info or post on the site my name is alex thanx

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

I believe this forum is the most active center for quahog info right now.

There is another: Pala International made a point of acquiring a couple of remarcable specimens.

Obviously these pearls are not your usual jewelry staple, so if they mean something, it would be so for someone who is well passed the concern of staples as well...

[Caitlin]

That pala site did not woek for me. I can't even search it without joining.

Anyway, please notice the date this thread was started-2005! Since then Antoinette Maitlins has taken some kind of interest in these pearls----though maybe it was just for her book...

Do not drill Quahog pearls, the best setting for them is a cage, though we have a picture of one in a prong style ring... (search the term "Quahog" to get all our results)

Basically, unless they are giant and I mean an inch acrooss, or set in an 19th century brooch, they are worth only what you can get-after you find a buyer...which isn't much in most cases.

The one below sold for $250,000 or so.

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

The Pala site did not work for me.

www. Palagems . com

LINK to their Quahogs

It is a very prominent colored stone hub with a definite interest in the unusual.

Second what you say about finding a buyer - they may not be all that many, but again, you only need as many as there are pearls.

I'm hardly an expert, but for size... 15mm is about as big as any and color seems important for these pearls; i.e. they can't be numerous enough for size to be absolutely decisive. The one that started the humbug was 14mm button. If they are symmetrical and have a pleasant color, wouldn't give up that easy. A set covering the color range sounds serious as well. I am seriously impressed with what this forum can possibly unearth in the way of exotic pearls!

Of course, just my twopence.


BTW. wasn't there another thread about quahogs around here? One started by Mr. Shephard... and called 'One in a trillion' or something.



Edited to add: The Quahog thread found It makes a great example of what is desirable for these pearls. Although the obiously exceptional choice there may not be the only. Anyway, I am inclined to look at these pearls as one of the exceptional native American precious materials, and there are very few on that list. Can't see these quahog pearls having any worse fate than red beryl, benitoite, Pala tourmaline...

[Quahog Man]

Hi !
I'm quahog Man. I've been eating these forever. Well, today i discovered a beautiful pearl in a Quahog. The Color Is Acorn "ish". Top is Darker Brown, and The Botton Lighter. I don't know how to upload a picture here, any help out there ? I May Sell It.

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by Quahog Man

I don't know how to upload a picture here, any help out there ?

Yes.

Try www.imageshack.us

and if all fails, send pictures at

data73 [at] lycos [dot] com



How big is it?

Has it been cooked with the Quahog shell it came from?

Have you kept the shell by any chance ?


You may want to run a search on Quahog pearls on this forum if not done already. There has been some talk about them in the past.

Looking forward to them pictures!

[RarePurplePearl]

I bought bushel of littleneck clams on 9-21-07 and split them with my father. While eating a raw clam on the halfshell; I bit down into a pearl.

I really could not believe my eyes.

A pearl in a clam? How bizarre is that!

This pearl is different though.

It is about the size of a skittle, oval, perfectly symmetrical, perfectly flawless and shiny.

The most interesting feature is its color. It is dark purple or lavender on one side and gradually fades into silver and then to white. I think this pearl is seriously valuable just based on the information I have found.

I am waiting to hear from Aintoinette Matlins after viewing some of the pictures I sent her. I am posting this thread to find out more about other Quahog pearls, find out the value of my pearl and maybe find someone intrested in making an offer.

If anyone out there is knowledgable in this area please chime in.


Corey, West Palm Beach Florida

info@expert-credit-advice.com

[GemGeek]

Good for you! Hope your teeth are okay!

The price is a mystery.

Good Luck,
Blaire

[jshepherd]

A good find, and a rare one.

I suggest sending an email to Jeremy Norris (jnorris) on this forum. He is one of the few people that really deal heavily in quahog pearls. He will give you a better valuation that anyone on the planet. I do not know how much Matlins will be able to help you. You may have heard of the valuation of a quahog she did a few years back. It was enormously unrealistic. In her defense she had no comparables, however.

Quahogs can be worth a few thousand dollars depending on their grade. I am not sure how the whole two-tone thing will change the value (whether up or down), however. I know the most valuable color is a light violet.