Search results

Dentist X-ray units are not the same used by labs to the best of my knowledge, so unlikely to see the fine detail necessary in pearls. A couple look like they could be bead cultured pearls (pearls either side of center?) but there could easily be structure within the central areas of both pearls...

Having some experience with Bahraini pearls I can confirm Pearl Dreams' observation, via Elisabeth Strack, that pearls found in the Middle East (Gulf) are saltwater and there are no freshwater sources or cultured pearl operations in the area that I am aware of at present. Any freshwater pearls...

You are welcome MSC. Glad you found them of benefit. P. maculata is one of the "least discussed" mollusks in the literature so nice to have something to turn to when needed down the line.

Hard to say from the images provided. As already mentioned by Pearl Dreams it looks like a rosebud pearl so freshwater and as amti notes there is some embelishment on a surface reaching feature (surface blemish?) where it could have been in contact with the host's shell. That doesn't mean it...

Two items of interest to PG members in the latest issue of G&G available here: https://www.gia.edu/doc/Winter-2018-Gems-Gemology.pdf First is on Pinctada maculata pearls (see natural pearl forum) and one on the subject title of this post which can be seen here too...

Two items of interest to PG members in the latest issue of G&G available here: https://www.gia.edu/doc/Winter-2018-Gems-Gemology.pdf First is on Pinctada maculata pearls and can also be viewed online here...

Looks like you have a mix of blister pearls (whole pearls that formed in the mantle & then moved to the shell for some reason where they were covered by subsequent layers of nacre) and blisters (features that formed on the surface of the shell, like a blister on your skin) and aren't strictly...

While it could be a "blister pearl" it is perhaps more likely a "blister". As I am sure most here know there is a difference and images aren't really the best way to separate them. Not sure how the value on such a piece would be affected if it were a blister rather than a blister pearl, probably...

It would also be a good idea to clarify what you are asking when posting the new images GemGeek asked about. I assume you are asking whether the colour is natural not whether the pearls themselves are natural. The latter would be extremely unlikely! They are most probably bead cultured pearls...

I think you would need some of the members here to answer that more accurately for you ericw. Someone like Hisano who likes to cut pearls in half for her designs should be able to answer the query, but I would think that the internal forms are a combination of voids and organic matter such as...

If you are interested in internal structures you will probably like this one I also found on the GIA website ericw: https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/spring-2018-gemnews-very-small-akoya-cultured-pearls I note that there is a thread about very small akoya bead cultured pearls too but will share...

"Is there a similar study about nucleated pearls?" Not that I am aware of, but a search for other possible articles that show something about bead cultured pearls produced this piece: https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research/pinctada-maculata-bead-cultured-blister-pearls-shells Figure 9 is the...

For those who like the range of colours in Pinctada margaritifera pearls and would like to see examples of their internal structures too. This may be of interest: https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research/non-bead-cultured-pearls-from-pinctada-margaritifera

The auction house seems to be very open about the whole blister/blister pearl point and provides details about both reports/studies made on this piece by The Netherlands Lab and SSEF. That they don't agree is reflective of the opinions out in the trade on such objects. It is not clear and either...

Thank you for revising the thread nnguye20. Did not see this before. I assume the pearls are more likely to be freshwater than saltwater. It would be wonderful to be able to see them today and find out more about them.

Agree with lilliefuzzysocks. Very interesting and jogged the memory cells re: the article following: https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/winter-2014-labnotes-natural-pearl-pteria-mollusks Knew I had seen similar pearls somewhere else before.

GemGeek - In particular this link to the more "common" name for the mollusk mentioned: https://www.conchology.be/?t=33&family=ARCIDAE or this one that takes you to a specific page for the species mentioned by the original poster https://www.conchology.be/?t=27&family=ARCIDAE&species=Trisidos...

greenjudy - Many condolences on the loss of your father. Stay strong and best wishes to you and the rest of your family at this difficult time.

Did you check with GIA on the fee? That price seems totally wrong as per their website. You can download the fees here: https://www.gia.edu/gem-lab-service/pearl I hope whoever quoted you $2000 is not trying to "pull a fast one"! From my experience dentist X-ray units are not useful for pearl...

Interesting article however I don't think the claim about the oldest Australian farm can be "trusted". Here are just two other claims found on the www: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuri_Bay 2) http://www.torrespearls.com/page14.htm Hence it may bring other points mentioned into question...