"Souffle' Pearls"

[Caitlin]

Those are muck pearls-Blaire's are souffles.

 

[jshepherd]

Potato potahto ... Souffle pearls are muck pearls.

 

[Caitlin]

Yes, but not all muck pearls are souffles.

 

[purlgurl]

Yes, but not all muck pearls are souffles.

Oh, touche` Caitlin. That made me smile.

 

[Seahorse]

Uses for Souffle's?

Uses for Souffle's?

Hi All, I have purchased some souffle pearls and had plans on drilling them for a bracelet, but now am wondering if they should be used for that application. I am starting to think that a tin cup necklace might be better suited. Their luster and orient is amazing, but since they are hollow I am not sure how sturdy they will be. They would make a very comfortable bracelet though, they are flat on one side.

Darla

 

[lisa c]

Don't even look like they come from the Wrong Side of the Blanket

Don't even look like they come from the Wrong Side of the Blanket

I think the pearl grade is a definite factor in the durability. This photo was a strand shot in Tucson with the same type of souffle or muck pearls.

https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/64662-post57.html

Wow, they don't look anything like Blaire's. They don't even look like relatives. Why were they being shown at the gem show, do you think?

 

[Caitlin]

They were being sold in the commercial pearls area of the gem show. About the same as you would get on eBay

I took Jeremy and Judi slumming and Judi took some excellent photos of the worst pearls I have ever seen, even at that show. They usually have some token non-freshwater pearls and this one booth brings in lower quality every year- at least it would seem so.

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product, whatever it is.

 

[la_corsetiere]

I've purchased a couple huge monsters lately from The Agustus Collection that might be considered "souffle" pearls, though they're actually quite nice. Very large South Sea baroques that are definitely hollow. Definitely bead-nucleated, though, so I guess in light of that they wouldn't fit the definition. One of them was already drilled and incorporated into a necklace, and the bead is emerging slightly at the back; the other one rattles when you shake it, so the bead is inside, but clearly much smaller than the final pearl. I'm rather nervous about drilling that one; haven't yet decided what I'll do with it. I wonder how these mutations form? They also have a very distinctive silvery hue and luster that might be typical of Indonesian pearls (?). If I'm able to attend the upcoming ruckus, I'll bring them along for show-and-tell and some expert opinions (but nobody gets to take a hammer to them - sorry!).

Sheri

 

[GemGeek]

Baroque South Sea pearls often develop a "gas" problem...

 

[patriciadear]

Wow.. when I saw the photo tonight I thought.. these are fabulous... the natural color is so different, so brilliant.....But after reading the info here I'm discouraged about them. Perhaps they will figure out how to culture these pearls in a more stable manner... I hope so. I have a very large tusk abalone pearl on my listings.. it's broken, revealing the hollow interior.. but the nacre is very thick and durable. As I remember the bottom part of this tusk was full of weird science dried "stuff" ..stuff that was so repelling that I threw it away. But the lovely nacre "top" has a solid nucleus underneath... a solid brown attached nucleus you can see in the photos. Although this broken pearl can only be used as a specimen it fascinates me. I guess the pearl farms must take natural pearls apart to find out their secrets.. then go from there? At any rate, I'm sorry to learn that these colorful 'slime pond' pearls are so delicate.. They are a tease...so so beautiful but so delicate. By the way years ago I purchased a couple of cheap strands of huge cultured pearls.. I think they were the first 'flame ball' pearl experiments.. the backs revealed a bead.. but the top domes were colorful and brilliant. I never used the pearls because of the funky backs. The seller called them 'rock pearls'.. has anyone encountered them? I haven't seen them since that gem show in San Diego.

 

[GemGeek]

The souffle's I've seen cut in half are very thick, but they are high end. I saw a listing for souffle' pearls on jtv.com, so they are getting around, but who is to say how thick those are?

 

[Guest]

Are those extreme beauties FWCP ?

U can combine them with some selected Thailand silver!!

 

[Guest]

That is FWP with the special luster just like the metallic

 

[newberry]

Thought I would share one of Blaire's "Souffle" pearls made into an enhancer for me.

 

[lisa c]

Gorgeous!!!!

 

[Hanaleimom]

Newberry, it's gorgeous. Please post your Cyber Monday pendant here too. Did you get it yet?

 

[pattye]

Oh, Wonderful! Amazing luster on the pearls and enhancer! Bet you get tons of compliments on this necklace!

 

[newberry]

Newberry, it's gorgeous. Please post your Cyber Monday pendant here too. Did you get it yet?

I has not shipped yet because it is going to have company in the box. A white ss strand, earrings and a 100 inch rope that Jeremy is putting together for me. My long awaited birthday present. I will post pictures when they arrive.

 

[Seabourn Pearls]

That necklace is totally rad. BTW, I have a fair quantity of high quality souffle pearls. If anyone is interested I can post some pics.

 

[Caitlin]

of course! Please post photos and tell us about them.