[J Marcus]

Do these seem legitimate?

http://cgi.ebay.com/155-GORGEOUS-RAR...742.m153.l1262

J. Marcus
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com.html

[Heidi]

Knowing this seller, my guess is yes, this is legitimate.

[pattye]

Yes, J. Marcus,

Carolyn is extremely knowledgeable about pearls, and extremely trustworthy. (She is a member here on the forum, but currently doesn't have time to post. If she sez it's a natural, you can be sure it is.

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Nerida]

You can "meet" this seller at this link: (sorry for my clumsy way of doing this)
Carolyn Ehret, her pearls, and Josh in Tucson...

Carolyn is an outstanding ebay vendor, and she has exquisite taste in rare pearls. No questions on this one!

[GemGeek]

Try this:
Carolyn Ehret, her pearls, and Josh in Tucson...

(I think the extra http made the link bad)

[Valeria101]

The strand reminds me of an entire hank Jeremy posted about ages ago. The pearls definitely have the look, and if they are from that source as well, then that's some pretty good provenance, methinks ...

[jshepherd]

Yes, in this thread: Something your rarely see...

A friend of mine (forum member, I am sure you know which) collects them down in Baja but they are very difficult to drill. I take them to my partner in China and he has them drilled and matched. I just gave him another lot of about 30 strands last week.

Actually, as you rarely see these strands of naturals, I would not be surprised if the eBay piece is one we drilled. My friend is a natural wholesaler so it would make sense.

[hacostas]

I just hope none of these pearls is from Pinctada mazatlanica.
This is a protected species in Mexico and there is no legal fishery (Pteria sterna was a protected species until 2001).
there is no industry based on P. mazatlanica, not even 'small scale'.
Unfortunately (for P mazatlanica) this is not enforced.
Hector

[Slraep]

Pearls from illegally poached bivalves is always a possibility. Even bivalves bearing natural pearls that are not protected species, should be fished or harvested sustainably, because otherwise, that is how they end up on a protected species list real quick. This is always a concern pertaining to "recently" fished natural pearls.

Would the P. mazatlantica, fluoresce pink or red like the P. sterna under UV light?

Slraep

[J Marcus]

Thanks everyone. That's a lot of information. Hmmm. . . I've been wanting to go fishing in Baja. . .

J. Marcus
http://flyrodjewelry.com/home.html