[Caitlin]

These are the latest from Tom Stern's collection.
He decribes this one: Atrina Vexillum, 23 carats:

Worked. There are areas of peacock effect on this pearl that make me wonder whether there are sometimes nacreous Atrina.

[Caitlin]

Here is the second one: Atrina vexillum 13 carats

Lightly worked

[Caitlin]

I was researching a bit and remembered Jeremy has one on his site

Natural Penn Pearl Diamond Ring NPR-000-304
PEARL TYPE : Natural Penn Pearl
GOLD:18kt White Gold
DIAMOND CTTW: 0.17

LINK

[Caitlin]

Her is a previous post from Pattye
Hi All,

Carolyn Ehret has given me permission to share this interesting and very rare piece with you all............of course, the photo is used with her permission........... Thanks very much, Carolyn..............



A rare necklace of Pen (Penn) pearls, approx 4-7.9mm, 26 inches long. Pearls were collected over a 10 year period in Gulf of Mexico. These are nacreous pearls with orient and lustre, chocolate black color. She says Pen pearls are often quite soft and break apart easily, but these being nacreous are not fragile that way. The Pen shell often is half nacreous and half non nacreous.

The pendant is a natural oyster pearl. (I think the cluster of 3 stones at the bottom are diamonds). We have so little information about these rare pearls here on the forum, much less a photo of a whole strand! I thought the oyster pearl unusual and lovely also.

Jeremy also is showing two lots of Pen pearls in the natural pearls section of his website.

Pattye

[Caitlin]

Here your answer to the question in the first post.

There are areas of peacock effect on this pearl that make me wonder whether there are sometimes nacreous Atrina.

The Pen shell often is half nacreous and half non nacreous.

Following is a second Penn pearl ring from Pearl Paradise

[Ashley]

I really really love Ehret's necklace- it reminds me quite a bit of an antique Rosary. Although I adore natural pearls in just about any form, Pen pearls always leave me a bit cold though, unless worked into a spectacular design like the necklace above.

Still, thank you for posting the updates, Caitlin! It is always appreciated here!

[Nerida]

Yes, Caitlin - thank you for (endlessly) educating us! I love the first pearl ring from PP, but it was also lovely to see TKStern's huge specimens, and to see the pic and description from Carolyn.