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Platinum-smithing was introduced well before the cultured era, in the late 1800s. So probably natural, the doubt being FW or SW. @barbaradilek's Scotland location, assuming that is where the piece was acquired, would favor the former. Interesting application of seed pearls!

I am not a trade member here, but my assumption is that you should be looking at "all of the above." You are evidently already in the jewelry trade so those familiar surroundings would offer an opportunity to create a résumé for pearls. For credentials going forward, an internship (or position...

Thanks so much Marianne and Pattye! The necessity of adapting the too-short strand to our needs inspired out-of-the-box thinking, a creative process nearly matching the strand itself (although timing could have been better from a gold-price standpoint). The various clips and hinges result in a...

Promise this is the final one, or risk turning this into a gold findings thread. Here a 13.5mm hinged connector ring becomes the new center for the extender, opening the range of possibilities to pendants without hinged bails. A golden extravaganza!

Looks great!

Jeg, Cat Ba cable car towers were in place in 2018, the entire course is 21kms, an incredible project said to be 100% graft by members of 'the Party.' The boats must now be taking some circuitous route to avoid seeing them. But on balance if it helps reduce boat traffic that would probably be a...

You have the advantage. We haven't seen clear enough photos to determine back vs. front vs. top vs. bottom, mostly the pearl appears to be uniformly lustrous under varied lighting conditions, with an attractive creamy-orange color. There was that one apparent missing section of the top surface...

Glad to see pendant vs. the shell ring, especially as the pearl seems relatively clean on all sides. The cage is too distracting, something more delicate would do more justice to the pearl. White metal would be my choice also.

Jeg, did you take the Cat Ba Cable Car out to the islands? They were just building that when we were there 6-7 years ago. Farms definitely have to be outside the bay and main tourist areas, the massive number of tourist boats and junks create a complete environmental disaster in the main bay...

Your certificate follows the example of the specimen I posted above, and confirms that Melo Yellow is a natural non-nacreous pearl, untreated in any way. Likewise, it confirms that it may be referred to as a ‘Melo’ pearl. It is a very nice pearl and you have a good plan for it. And at 6.8...

GIT website with description of services posts a sample certificate that coincidentally certifies a "Melo" pearl. The methods and terminology are consistent and professional, so no problem. The most important detail is under Treatments. "No indication of treatments" means no working, shaping...

I'm not aware of their level of expertise with pearls vs GIA, can you post the certificate?

You must be pleased, it is nicer than the seller's photos, also is less yellow with tendency to the more typical brick/light orange. While creative, the photos are taken under different lighting and background conditions that make it impossible to judge which side should be up. What is your...

You certainly found the right conch for that setting. It screams MIAMI !

This is the one. Your ideas are clear, and you have extensively searched for natural porcelanous pearls that do work well with the settings you had in mind. Hopefully, as mentioned above, you are able to set the 'Yellow Melo' side with missing section of outer layer down. I personally have...

Photos and discussion are on your other Melo thread. See the danger of multiple threads? Best if you repost there!

It's attractive, and that conch was the perfect shape for its intended home. It would be interesting to see the shell ring prior to your enhancements, also a photo of the finished ring on finger. Are the pearls epoxied in place?

Wishful thinking: I'd like to imagine that Bunny and Pearl somehow fell into the hands of a young woman who stole our hearts on Halong Bay a few years ago. With baby on board, she rowed steadily for an hour chasing our ship until we anchored for the evening. We happily bought more Halong Lager...

Doesn't take misery to be in the fraud business. Greed is sadly blind to economic condition. Tahitians will need their own thread, it will be a very different conversation. The conch ring when finished would best be posted on that thread, as a logical follow-up.

Ah yes, that is the seller we told you to cross off your list. Looks more like he was trying to fake an underripe strawberrry. Not bad.