New pearl book will be released on sep 15, 2025

I discuss the bead nucleation of freshwater pearls and show examples of the various types including the small gonad-grown beaded freshwater pearls that appeared on the market in 2022 (AK Baby Edison pearls and AK freshwater pearls). A photo from Betty Sue Kind of King's Ransom shows examples of these pearls. Bead nucleation of mantle-grown and gonad-grown freshwater pearls was also discussed in the 6th edition of my Pearl Buying Guide.
 
Thank you. Will look again.

We cross posted. I just wrote:
What I did find fascinating is something you wrote about saltwater pearls now being tissue nucleated in the mantle. I had not heard about that. Can you tell us more about that? Is this maybe because of a greater demand for keshi shapes in saltwater pearls?
 
I have been reading and enjoying your book, Renee. But I didn't see any mention of these newest, mantle bead nucleated FWP that are especially white because of the donor mussels bred to have very white mantle tissue.

What I did find fascinating is something you wrote about saltwater pearls now being tissue nucleated in the mantle. I had not heard about that. Can you tell us more about that? Is this maybe because of a greater demand for keshi shapes in saltwater pearls?
 
I didn’t say that the newest mantle bead nucleated pearls are especially white because I have seen them in various colors. However, on page 64, I list the various causes of pearl color including the color of the tissue inserted with the bead nucleus. I also show some rare white Tahitian pearls from the black-lip oyster on page 114. Pearl producers don’t normally want to publicize how they create unusual pearl colors.

On what page did I say the beadless saltwater pearls are grown in the mantle. Thank-you for buying my new pearls book.
 
I become to know that the new pearl book by renee newman will be released on sep 15, 2025

The links are


Thank-you for announcing the publication of my new Pearls book. The release of the book was delayed until October 15.
More information, a table of contents and the first reviews are on my website at: www.reneenewman.com/Pearls.htm
 
Sadly, Dr Hanni passed away last January so I can't ask him. But I assume the saltwater pearls would be mantle grown to make them appear like the accidental keshi that form when the oyster rejects the bead that was placed in the gonad along with the piece of mantle tissue. Designers like to create unique jewelry with baroque shapes.
 
That is more or less what I was thinking. I found this just now while searching for Dr. Hänni, thinking maybe there was an SSEF paper about this.

(I haven't checked your bibliography but I expect the reference is there.)
Well-- I guess that is all we know about this. It seemed like he was saying what might possibly be being done, rather than that it was actually being done. :unsure:

Thanks for the conversation.
 
Steve, the photo of your abalone and pipi pearl pin is in Chapter 2 of the new Pearls book as an example of natural pipi pearls from the Indo-Pacific region. Since Blair Beavers contributed that photo and a couple of others, she will be receiving a copy from the publisher. The caption says: “A natural abalone and pipi pearl pin, designed for Steve Metzler by Bergman and Sons. Photo by Blaire Beavers.” The information on nacreous and non-nacreous pearls is expanded and updated in Chapters 8 & 9 of the new book.
Thanks! And congratulations on the continuing success.
 
What I did find fascinating is something you wrote about saltwater pearls now being tissue nucleated in the mantle. I had not heard about that. Can you tell us more about that? Is this maybe because of a greater demand for keshi shapes in saltwater pearls?
The labs, (SSEF, GIA et al) were inundated with these in the late 90s and early 00s, as apparently techniques developed in FW culture to achieve greater symmetry were applied to SW culture with the idea that they would easily pass as naturals. And they did for a while. In desperation the labs turned to the latest Micro CT scanning to detect the telltale cavity at the nucleus left by the decaying tissue (testing not effective on drilled pearls). This all took place around 2007-2009, was fascinating to watch in real time. The result would be an improved and more predictable keshi production, for sure.
 
I will be posting the official Pearl Guide review of Renee's wonderful new book very soon. (Sanctioned by Jeremy and Douglas.) I had my hands on another reviewer's copy for about 15 minutes and that was enough for me to go wild over it and want to deep dive and share. FYI, Renee is a very talented and knowledgeable author, and I would recommend any of her gem books for your library.
 
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