[Slraep]

Originally Posted by smetzler

Just had a horrible thought. What if they did drill it and it split in two—thus creating a new round of headlines, not to mention multiplicity of sale opportunities.

Lord, no.

Slraep

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by pattye

It needs to be left out on the sun to cleanse for at least a month before throwing in the ocean, not fair for the ocean to have to absorb all that negative energy, it has enough trouble already.

Oh, I didn't think of that! You are right! What about cleansing the thing and then burying it deep in the earth, or sinking it in a tar pit? What about letting it dissolve in a huge vat of wine and then marketing the resulting drink? No, maybe not. Seems blasphemous to market an alcoholic beverage made out of something named "The Pearl of Allah". Sigh. Maybe a little side trip on a space shuttle---no, that's too close to the earth's gravitational force and it will just become more dangerous space junk if dumped. How about ejecting it half way to Mars by one of those landers? But then, some unsuspecting planet will eventually pull it in, or it will somehow weasel its way back to the earth hitting us in the form of a destructive meteorite. No, no, this needs careful thinking out...

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[Valeria101]

Returning to the subject...

Originally Posted by Fai

Can this pearl be a rare considering its shape and good luster

I've been living with the impression that relatively small Tridacna pearls are usually symmetrical baroques like this one. Of course, not all might have that perfect, classic 'sugarloaf'shape like this one does - it's got to count for something.

Not sure what counts as good / bad lustre for these pearls. I just have not seen that many, and the few I know looked like porcelain (i.e. with pretty good lustre). Rare and unusual as all Tridacna pearls are, I'm wondering whether anyone has come up with a story of what constitutes 'good quality' for them. If one is of a shape and size suitable for wear (like this one), I'm sure it gets extra points. Just from my point of view, even texture and spotless color makes up 'quality'. I am not sure if 'defects' on the underside of a button pearl (like this one) would even be a reason for discount.... no more then they are for natural nacreous pearls, perhaps.

Another question may be whether Tridacna pearls may be compared with the other, better known non-nacreous pearls (Melo and Conch) which loose points for lack of color. Although this comparison makes a bit of sense, it also seems unfair since Tridacna pearls are always white. Your call to put this bit straight

Basically, I believe that at this point no one came out of the woods with a bag (i.e. large stock) of Tridacna pearls to promote the type. And no one came up with a quality standard as yet - even Gems & Gemoloy has nothing on them yet. The above is just my own 'idea' of what could go into such a quality standard. But I do not have the bag of pearls... so that doesn't really count.

All in all, I find the subtle look of these pearls (i.e. definitely not the showy kind of jewelry, are they) extremely attractive: the 'objects' have instant appeal and invite explaining. Not everyone wants their jewelry to be a 'conversation' piece, but that's another story.

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by Slraep

What about letting it dissolve in a huge vat of wine and then marketing the resulting drink?

Make that vinegar - really strong! You'd need lots of acid in it to dissolve all that chalk.

Besides, it seems to take forever to damage (let alone dissolve) a normal pearl in wine. That myth sounds bogus. Has anyone else tried?

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by Valeria101

Make that vinegar - really strong! You'd need lots of acid in it to dissolve all that chalk.

Besides, it seems to take forever to damage (let alone dissolve) a normal pearl in wine. That myth sounds bogus. Has anyone else tried?

Yes, I know you need something quite acidic to dissolve a pearl (and we are taking about The Pearl of Allah here, so we may need battery acid) but, just think, if the wine-infusion works, you could plaster a mock scene of Cleopatra handing M. Anthony a cup of T. gigas vino on the finished bottle. What a great marketing ploy! How romantic!---but only if Allah doesn't get annoyed and send a thunderbolt out of the sky to bast you...

I think it would dissolve fairly rapidly in some Coca Cola. But where is the romance in that? Although you could market it as Coke--- flavoured with an element from a species on its way to extinction.

Slraep