[Caitlin]

The reason I posted this is the mention of the nucleated CFWP. Do they meaan bead nucleated?

Tucson Pearl Walk 2007
It was a hard job – but someone had to do it! Eve Alfillé couldn’t pass up the lush, exciting, larger Ikecho and Second-growth pearls emanating from ever-evolving China. Sharing a first look with Pearl Society members at the February meeting, Alfillé also brought out newly GIA-certified and very popular strands of Chocolate South Seas pearls, the result of a stable bleaching process applied to certain Tahitian pearls.
Also amazing was the huge size of some of the new Chinese pearls: nucleated, and highly lustrous, these lovely creatures dubbed “Ikecho” can take their place along some of the world’s great treasures. A magnificent example was a meld of these huge pink Ikecho combined with light golden Burmese and silvery Australian pearls in a highly desirable and probably unique strand. And the fun factor came with a tutti-frutti carnival of multicolored dyed freshwaters, a full 72” in length!

[jshepherd]

I believe they are referring to the fireballs. I also believe it was Ruan out of Zhuji that dubbed the new name. They featured a $200k strand that measured up to 23mm at the last HK show.

[Caitlin]

Thanks Jeremy
That was one fast answer!

For some reason I imagined them as round, but a closer look shows I just imagining it.

23mm the long way? How big across the round part?

[jshepherd]

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

23mm the long way? How big across the round part?

No, not the eBay way, the real way - perpendicular to the drill-hole.

[knotty panda]

I know if you had pics, you'd post them. If you can find some, please post. Thanks! "Stable" chocolate pearl bleaching? Is there such a thing or is it only a matter of time before the chocolate melts on your neck?

[Caitlin]

That is large. 23mm across the bead and up to what 40mm with the tail? Those would be almost too big to wear.

[jshepherd]

Originally Posted by knotty panda

I know if you had pics, you'd post them. If you can find some, please post. Thanks! "Stable" chocolate pearl bleaching? Is there such a thing or is it only a matter of time before the chocolate melts on your neck?

Your wish is my command!

[Sueki]

Wooohooo !!
Gorgeous glorious pearls.

[Caitlin]

Are those the fireballs or the bleached Tahitians?

[jshepherd]

Those are the "Ikecho" fireballs. That is the 23mm strand that Ruan had for $200k.

[Caitlin]

Those don't look like other fireballs I've seen with tails. I love the colors, kind of Lake Kasumi style colors.

Did someone buy it at 200K and if they did, will this kind of pricing fall as production goes up? Or do you think it will stay small production for various reasons?

[jshepherd]

I do not believe the strand sold. It was (in my opinion) little more than a publicity stunt. The "new Ikecho" was more or less being unveiled at the show.

Chairman Zhan, of the Grace Pearl Company in Zhuji told me his company was pouring 80% of their resources into production of the fireballs now. They are actually producing enough to create matches, for earrings!

I have not yet jumped onto the bandwagon with those pearls, although I did select a handful of them earlier in the year. They hold a dark secret, so they may not be around forever.

[Valeria101]

How surreal!

Not sure I know what is worth 200k in pearls these days... not at all. But those guys look as if they would be worth something as striking as they are. Maybe that's not the image of 'pearls' anyone is used with, but it is really, really easy to get used to. The strand looks like the sunset ... everybody knows a beautiful sunset when they see one I am glad to know the things exist at all... I think. There are nuclei inside, right?

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PS. Does LINKING THREADS between open forums amount to gossip ? Hope not...

[Ingykiz]

What a beautiful strand of pearls! I would wear those in a heartbeat. I love "Wima Flintstone" pearls. Are the colors natural?

[knotty panda]

Well, holy cow, WOW! And that's just a picture! Those would create a NCN out of even the strongest holdout!