[CLICLASP]

Hello,
I am very found of keshis and had always though these were made of pure nacre. Meaning for me, full pure nacre from center to surface... So I was much surprised when drilling 15 mm south sea keshis, in order to put a clasp into, to see they were hollow pearls!
So I wonder what is the growth process that makes an "empty" pearl ? Looks like nacre bubbling over a hole, what strange !

Thanks a lot for clarifying info

[Caitlin]

Hi CliClasp
I knew they were hollow, but not why. Good Question. Meanwhile, waiting an answer from the experts, did you see the thread on dirty gold and the quest for recycled gold clasps? Do you do any? How about silver clasps in your style?

That is a pretty clasp and looks easy to use.

[Caitlin]

That is going to take some time to decipher, but it will be fun. So the crinkled keshi that are hollow were puffed up then deflated? Most of the krinkled ones seem like deflated spheres.

[effisk]

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

That is going to take some time to decipher, but it will be fun. So the crinkled keshi that are hollow were puffed up then deflated? Most of the krinkled ones seem like deflated spheres.

This is not how I understand that. Or maybe you're just trying to confuse us a little bit more...

The hole in the middle is originally conchiolin bubbles and C02 (and proteins). The layers of aragonite just accumulate and follow the shape of the conchiolin base.

[CLICLASP]

Hi Caitlin

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

Hi CliClasp
did you see the thread on dirty gold and the quest for recycled gold clasps? Do you do any? How about silver clasps in your style?

That is a pretty clasp and looks easy to use.

I have not found the thread upon dirty gold clasp, but interested in !

About changeable clasp, it's a Swiss registered mecanism, just an easy "push and turn" system, steel or gold, that allows to change as you like either the clasp or the necklace or even a pendant. The clasp becomes the focus point of the necklace !

This mecanism can be put into a pearl or a beastone or any jewellery you can imagine, the photo is a hammered silver one! You can see more pictures and explanations by clicking on the link under my signature that leads too to further infos.
Hope you will enjoy !!!

Tell me if you want to know more, or any special request !!!

Thanks again everybody

[CLICLASP]

Hi Caitlin


QUOTE=Caitlin Williams]Hi CliClasp
I knew they were hollow, but not why. Good Question. Meanwhile, waiting an answer from the experts, did you see the thread on dirty gold and the quest for recycled gold clasps? Do you do any?[/quote]


I get the thread about recycled gold. I completely agree with recycling material to avoid planet wasting + bad working conditions, and pollution.
So the changeable clasps are produced in Europe, either Germany or Switzerland -as it is a Swiss registered mecanism - can be done in gold too.

But the real interest is to set the mecanism into the pearl itself so as to highlight the pearl either alone on a wire or a string, or as a "secret" clasp when set in a full strand.

Can be an alternative to gold?

[Satine De La Courcel]

Hi Caitlyn,

I like the Idea of the clasp mechanisnm being set into the pearl itself, Mu mama, has some Akoya( I will have to ask her to be sure) that have the clasp done this way. She has arthritis in her hands so bad she can not handle the normal variety of clasps.. but this one she can I think its a great Idea.. besides I have borrowed her perls and my 3 year old neiice thinks itis magic how the pearls work, "and they just stay arround your neck??? Auntie Ashby wow teach me the magic....."

This concludes youer Ashby Babble on this thread we now return you to your regularly scheduled posters...



Cheers

Ash

[DrTKStern]

Sometimes early in the culturing process, an oyster spits out the bead but continues to form a pearl, because it had become so irritated. These become Keshi pearls, byproducts of the culturing process.

Some have a hollow space inside visible on X-ray; while some are nearly solid.

At top-end pearl farms, X-rays are now taken to make sure the bead has not been ejected; and if it has, the oyster is reimplanted. Consequently, Keshi pearls are becoming rare with improved pearl-culturing techniques.

[knotty panda]

If I wasn't confused, I sure am now. Isn't it fairly easy to tell with the naked eye the difference between a keishi and a bead-nuked pearl?

[DrTKStern]

It is impossible to distinguish a Keshi, a cultured, or a natural pearl with the naked eye. X-rays and crystallography must be used, as at Gemological Institute and other pearl certification companies.

Tom Stern,MD

[Slraep]

Medical doctor of pearls? Nah, that would be MDP.

[Caitlin]

I was going to say something similar: Maybe I should change my name to CWilliams, MAP- that would be Master of Arts in Pearls.

joke, joke, my masters degree has nothing to do with pearls so I didn't list it- ! but for all the money I spent on it I probably should.........

It is impossible to distinguish a Keshi, a cultured, or a natural pearl with the naked eye.

Not always. You can often see the bead in a pearl plated bead. I have some natural Bahraini pearls and you don't need anything to see they are natural. They are quite old and been worn a great deal, The layers of nacre show up around the hole in a way that pearl plated beads just can't accomplish.

I took some pix the last time I had them apart for cleaning. Here is just one photo where you can see into the hole. Notice the orange glow from the Qatari pearl. No pearl plated bead ever looked like that. I have some other pix from when they were dirty. The layers show up best in that one, but who wants to put up a picture of a dirty pearl?

Remember Doug's perfect keshi pearl last year? No test could tell it from a natural except Doug's integrity in stating what it was. I'll look for the link.

When you want to sell, it is good to have paper from the pros, though.

[Caitlin]

Here is the link. Actually as I reread this, I don't think it is a keshi at all. I think it is very hard to classify it according to current standards. Doug says it is a natural because it did not grow in an old pearl sac. Now what would the tests say about this one??

Here is a picture:

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

joke, joke, my masters degree has nothing to do with pearls so I didn't list it- ! but for all the money I spent on it I probably should.........

Well I'm glad you didn't, you modest gal! No need to brandish it on a pearl forum, that's for sure. You are one smart cookie with or without it. Everyone can see(should say "read" that).

Slraep

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by DrTKStern

It is impossible to distinguish a Keshi, a cultured, or a natural pearl with the naked eye. X-rays and crystallography must be used, as at Gemological Institute and other pearl certification companies.

I honestly doubt any pearl lab with whatever equipment can determine the difference between a wild fished natural marine keshi pearl or one that formed in a farmed marine oyster along side a cultured pearl. I don't think chrystallography can tell you the difference. If it does, then curious me wants to know how?? It comes down to believing the supplier or seller of the pearl. If it was Douglas I was dealing with, I would believe him, although I can't picture him plundering any wild p. sterna stock. I would believe Jeremy and a bunch of other experts here on the forum who are honest too.

How does one tell if a Tahitian keshi is a true natural or by-product of culturing?

Slraep