Average size of South Sea pearl nuclei?

[R&B]

Gidday Pearlharbourer

You pointed out one of your pearls was a tear drop.

Put it in the palm of your hand. Look closely at the pointier end as you slowly turn it.

As you turn, focus on the middle pointier bit. Don't look at the edges as they will change as they reflect your skin.

Once you have focused on the nacre and colour, start to move down to the boulbus end doing the same inspection until you have finnished at the bottom.

All nuclei in South Sea Pearls are round, with a teardrop shape the nuclei will be in the boulbus section.

If you find an area that differs in colour, it's pretty likely a thin area of nacre.

Two things I personally recommend when buying pearls.

1: Roll them in your hand to SEE them. If the vendor won't let you touch it, walk out.

2: Understand that if the pearl you are buying is already mounted as jewellery, you will never know if it was a gem grade or not. Jewellers love to buy B grades, cover the flaws with a mount and sell them as Gem grade.

If you are buying over the internet, do back ground checks on the seller.

I hope that explains it. Have a nice day.

[KarinK]

That is great information, Rusty. Thank you!

- Karin

[Katbran]

This has been really entertaining and informative..great combination I do have a question about SS pearls , when you buy them from a wholesaler...should they provide a certificate that says country of origin? I'm about to order a strand and wondered what they should provide as I've never bought them before...this info has been great...but I'm buying from a photo (posted those in another thread..still working on the strand..)

Are SS pearls produced in China? I have looked in forums for more info on this but can't find it .

[Adeline Leigh]

Rusty and experts,

Should we worry if for a SSP, teardrop shape, the nuclei will in the boulbus section differs in colour? You did say before that "it's a pretty likely thin area of nacre".
What does this mean in terms of longevity of the pearl? Should we set and encase the thin area of nacre or if it is left to face the elements of normal wear, will it flake or crack?

[R&B]

Thanks Karin,

Katbran, The real problem you are faced with unless you buy direct from the farmer is Who knows where they came from?

There are honourable people out there, but a certificate really is just a piece of paper.

You would be stunned if you saw the numbers that go through the auctions or whole saleing.

You could ask the vendor which farm they came from then make a call to the farm to find out if that's the case. Mind you most farms are big companies and they may not be bothered with your call.

It also depends on the wholesalers position in the after farm chain. That in itself can be quite an intriguing situation.

Realistically though, if you realy like the strand you've seen and the price is right, go for it.

If you want to know where the pearls come from and enjoy a serious persuit, go to the farm of your choice. (ask them first of course).

I should point out Katbran, You are buying a strand of South Sea Pearls. Check their refund policies in case after the pic, the pearls are not right for you.

[Katbran]

Rusty, thanks so very much for all the great information and advice. I never thought about the various steps leading from the farm...but I can see where there could be a few between the guy I'm buying from the the guy who's prying out the pearls. If you ever come down to Adelaide I owe you a beer or two (be sure to stick some pearls in you pockets before you come) thanks again

[Amrita]

This is such an educative thread about SSP nuclei and their oysters, done in a very entertaining and engaging way! Thanks Rusty and Mikeyy! Really enjoyed it.

[GemGeek]

Really, I agree that you all have shared great descriptions and analogies. Too fun!

[pearlharbourer]

Thanks R&B for the tips. I believe my SS pearls have a good lustre and are evenly coloured. All of mine were already set in pendants, but have small caps apart from one.

My round (as far as I can see) pearl has a large domed cap (acorn-like) covering part of the top of the pearl, but the pearl looks fine otherwise. I suspect the pearl might have had a circle around the top or been a bit pointy, I will never know. But it seems too extreme to get all my pearls valued/x-rayed before buying them, it would really add to the cost!

Once however, while out pearl-hunting I saw a two-tone SSP in a pearl jewellery shop. What could this mean? I think it was a drop shape, and the top was cream and the bottom was light gold, or vice-versa. Is that bad? I didn't go for it. Sales staff were very pushy.

Also, have been researching x-ray pics and found this very helpful photo and description from this website: http://www.michaelfreemanphoto.com/m...625950d-pearls

[R&B]

Gidday Adeline

The nuclei sitting in the boulbus secton of a tear drop pearl is simply the way they are created. In South Sea Pearl growing quite a few are seeded to get a beautiful gem grade.

The better your practices and the right environmental seasons will see and increase of the ratio.

The thing is quite a few don't make the grade, be very careful buying over the internet with what appear to be cheap South Sea Pearls.

The yarn about visual nacre inpection of pearls I put up top pretty much goes with any shape. Just remember when looking at a South Sea wether Baroque or round there is a round nuclei in there somewhere.

Try and visualise the round nuclei that you know is inside. then roll it around trying to see variation. I envissaged some of you going over your pearls with this new knowledge desperate to know your pearls are OK. When you've have untold pearls go through your fingers the process takes less than a second.

Sorry folks I know you have asked more questions but my beautiful wife has called me for dinner. Nothing can keep me at this computer now. I'll be busy tomorrow but I'll answer you then.

Enjoy the waite, I have a lovely meal to enjoy with beautiful company, Cheers, Rusty.

[Alex]

Thanks R&B for the tips. I believe my SS pearls have a good lustre and are evenly coloured. All of mine were already set in pendants, but have small caps apart from one.

My round (as far as I can see) pearl has a large domed cap (acorn-like) covering part of the top of the pearl, but the pearl looks fine otherwise. I suspect the pearl might have had a circle around the top or been a bit pointy, I will never know. But it seems too extreme to get all my pearls valued/x-rayed before buying them, it would really add to the cost!

Once however, while out pearl-hunting I saw a two-tone SSP in a pearl jewellery shop. What could this mean? I think it was a drop shape, and the top was cream and the bottom was light gold, or vice-versa. Is that bad? I didn't go for it. Sales staff were very pushy.

Also, have been researching x-ray pics and found this very helpful photo and description from this website: http://www.michaelfreemanphoto.com/m...625950d-pearls

how great - this image reminded me of the planets

nature is a wonderful thing

[R&B]

Gidday again

Adeline, with regular wearing the thin area will simply wear off to expose the nuclei.

You can hide that section within a mount. For example, in my travels I have pretended interest in pearl jewellery to suss out the vendor and found brooches to be beautiful upon first glance but when rotated and viewed closer to be a seriously flawed pearl. I beleive there's nothing wrong with doing that, provided they are not charging you for a "good" pearl.

If you have pearls like that, mount them as best you can as a piece of jewellery and enjoy wearing them, no one will know they are low grade, unless you tell them.

Further to your question and probably good for all to understand, with regular wear, pearls wear out.

Don't freak out about that statement, wash your pearls when you take them off and prolong their lives.

Friends and I have worn big pearls constantly. As in they have a big fave on a choker on rubber bracelet and they pretty well never take it off. The constant body acids and in some cases perfumes take their toll and the pearl progressively deteriorates. You won't see it happen in a day or a week, more-so over time.

You as a human progressively shed skin, a pearl progressively shed's it's ultra thin tiles, platelets or whichever you callthem.

Now Pearlharbourer, the yarn about visual nacre inspection is a basic yarn for beginners with a silver South Sea Pearl.
The two tone pearl you describe can be quite a unique beauty, I see a few that are silver into yellow and some silver into pink.

I have no trouble selling them when they come along with a good clean coating of nacre.

The colour comes from the Glue/ Compound that holds the plateletes / tiles together.

I am unable to explain the actual variation at this point and can only advise we are studying this process.

Get yourself a hold of a South Sea Pearl Shell, Quite often in the nacre on the outer edge you will have a strip of either greyer or yellower nacre as opposed to the silver middle.

That is the same as the pearl you mention, we are looking for the reason. Could be genetic, could be immediate environment, could be anything.

It's quite probable that many in this industry have already spent fortunes trying to work it out, they are not talking about it to my knowledge.

We'll just keep plodding along with our efforts. Maybe you'll read about it one day, or maybe Bron and I will simply continue to marvel at how our pearls come out without ever finding out why each come out so different.

It's a great life watching South Sea Pearls come into the world. Good night.

[Adeline Leigh]

Lovely reply, Rusty. Thank you for the expertise and sharing. You and Bronwyn enjoy your long Easter break.