[smetzler]

Originally Posted by GemGeek

Love the gecko! And I love the octopus, too! My friend Leslie has a lot of jewelry, but my favorite is a 15mm white south sea pearl held by a huge white gold octopus. Each leg terminates in a different tiny faceted gemstone. It's by the designer Onofrio D'Oro. If Leslie still lived in San Diego, I'd post a photo. She lives in Seattle now.

Blaire, you have nice friends! Leslie managed to stop by our office today, and there was enough diffuse light on an overcast day to get some decent color. The 18kyg Tahitian piece was her original acquisition, followed by the SS18kwg. Both impressive!

Leslie also showed me the Eyris Blue mabés she acquired when you were there together, and we shot an 8mm piece together with a nice Tahitian peacock she plans to match it with…

[gravityalwayswins]

OMG the white gold octopus is WONDERFUL. I like the tiny diamonds in the tentacles!

[pattye]

Wow! Showstoppers!! Great job on the photos, Steve! Mabe and Tahitian are truly gorgeous---can't wait to see what comes of that marriage-----Leslie, we strongly approve of your taste in pearls

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[GemGeek]

Yeah, Leslie told me on the phone that the stones were all white diamonds. The white octopus is still my favorite, and they are HUGE. It would have been good to put a ruler or a dime in the photo for size reference. The designer, Onofrio D'Oro, is in New York and I highly recommend him.

Great job Steve, and thanks for sharing Leslie's jewels. Thanks Leslie, YOU ROCK!

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by smetzler

/...the Eyris Blue mabés she acquired ...with a nice Tahitian peacock she plans to match it with…

Black lip matching black abalone pearl !!? How's that happened?

[Heidi]

These are stunning. Beautiful metal work and setting. Your friend Leslie has fantastic taste in jewelry!

[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by Valeria101

Black lip matching black abalone pearl !!? How's that happened?

They aren't an exact match -- I would say that their colors are highly complementary. If you throw in another stone, say, one fabulous top grade emerald Leslie has been hoarding, then it would be a dream pendant!

[Heidi]

Originally Posted by GemGeek

They aren't an exact match -- I would say that their colors are highly complementary. If you throw in another stone, say, one fabulous top grade emerald Leslie has been hoarding, then it would be a dream pendant!

Is Leslie interested in joining in the forum discussions? It sounds like she's got a good eye and some real experience collecting to share...

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by Valeria101

Black lip matching black abalone pearl !!? How's that happened?

I did a quick internet search for a shell image of P. Margaritifera showing nacre coloration that hinted at the production of the blue, green and peacock range of black pearls. Got more than I was looking for in the image below of a shell from the Tuamotus supplied by Robert Wan, from a 1999 paper on the nature of pearl iridescence by Y. Liu, J. E. Shigley and K. N. Hurwit of the GIA, published by the Optical Society of America.

The polishing process seems to have removed the hinge from the shell, which is illuminated by argon ion laser—effect not specified. The paper does state that it is an 'exceptional' shell.

[GemGeek]

Leslie said she joined, but hasn't figured out how to navigate yet. In a few days, when she gets through her backlog of work, we'll do a telephone tutorial.

Heidi, I agree, Leslie has killer taste in jewelry. She has a morganite necklace and earring set that occasionally makes appearances in my dreams.

And Leslie was my roommate on the big pearl tour with Jeremy, so she's seen enough pearls to warrant inclusion here, for sure!

[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by smetzler

I did a quick internet search for a shell image of P. Margaritifera showing nacre coloration that hinted at the production of the blue, green and peacock range of black pearls. Got more than I was looking for in the image below of a shell from the Tuamotus supplied by Robert Wan, from a 1999 paper on the nature of pearl iridescence by Y. Liu, J. E. Shigley and K. N. Hurwit of the GIA, published by the Optical Society of America.

The polishing process seems to have removed the hinge from the shell, which is illuminated by argon ion laser—effect not specified. The paper does state that it is an 'exceptional' shell.

Congratulations on finding such a terrific photo. That is an exceptional shell, but others from the Wan farms in the Tuamotos have the same colors, just less of them. I gave my shells away as gifts and later I was sorry I didn't keep one.

The shells made appearances as beautiful gem-quality carved pendants on Tahitian pearl strands of a few lucky locals, but I couldn't find a fine one for sale. Just lots of rough carvings. Sounds like I need to go back?

[jeanpn]

Originally Posted by smetzler

The paper does state that it is an 'exceptional' shell.

When I was in French Polynesia I was given polished shells like the one you have pictured with each pearl purchase. They are all as colorful as the one you have pictured. I also saw the same polished shells for sale in some shops for about $10 each, again all quite colorful. Perhaps they are all like that under their shaggy exterior. ?
Jean

[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by jeanpn

When I was in French Polynesia I was given polished shells like the one you have pictured with each pearl purchase. They are all as colorful as the one you have pictured. I also saw the same polished shells for sale in some shops for about $10 each, again all quite colorful. Perhaps they are all like that under their shaggy exterior. ?
Jean

Exactly! Apparently, it's a lot of work to grind off the outer shell and polish it without breaking off pieces from the edges.

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by GemGeek

Exactly! Apparently, it's a lot of work to grind off the outer shell and polish it without breaking off pieces from the edges.

Yes, this was my caveat upon posting the picture, that we must assume the hinge was discarded, since the polished shell does not resemble the shape of P. Margaritifera. That leaves us to trust the sources, which of course would seem unimpeachable (Robert Wan, GIA), assuming that the shell was provided as P. Margaritifera. And if it were not, then we would certainly all be asking what shell it was!

[GemGeek]

Jean is right. They sell the trimmed and polished shells in Tahiti and I received a couple as gifts from Robert Wan.

I meant to keep one, but they looked like something a man would like, so I gave the last one to the biker dude who used to do my hair. <sigh>

I saw some in Tucson, so I'll get another one next year!