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    Freshwater Pearl Farm Visit - Zhuji and Shanxiahu

    The method for the full term is extraordinary! Have most farms actually transitioned or is it still a work in progress?
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    Freshwater Pearl Farm Visit - Zhuji and Shanxiahu

    I'm impressed by the individualized feeding system during juvenile rearing. Though not mentioned, it's apparent thermal control optimizes food cell size and volume per ml, thus maximizing growth rates uniformly among the biomass. It involves a lot more handling thus more labour intensive, but...
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    PSA: FAKE Pearl Brand Scams, i.e. Manea Pearls, Marama Pearls on Instagram & Facebook

    When this first came to my attention, they were using real life images of the persons and farm. A DMCA take down was invoked, but they reared up again shortly thereafter using AI imagery in the same location. In light of that resurgence, these scammers are exceedingly bold and ruthless.
  4. L

    Is this a light colored conch necklace?

    Agreed. The match, especially size and shape are largely characteristic of shell beads. Despite that, it's a nicely constructed and attractive strand.
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    What’s the difference, where to get? Oysters.

    Most closed shellfish rearing operations are ephemeral. Spat fall tanks two weeks... if that. Conditioning adults to spawning... less than a week and after spawning less than a month until they reach the pediveliger state. Then the juveniles are relayed out and the systems are drained...
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    What’s the difference, where to get? Oysters.

    Domestic aquariums as we know them are not suitable for rearing shellfish. Technically they are "down wells" where feces, bacteria and detritus are drawn through the substrate, then the filter and discharged at the surface. Shellfish rearing and feeding require up welling systems, thus aquarium...
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    What’s the difference, where to get? Oysters.

    Exporting live molluscs is illegal in most countries due to strict regulatory laws, namely public health and safety. Likewise importing it is prohibited under invasive species categories. I investigated this decades ago and the scientific permitting process was intensive and costly, which...
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    PSA - Fake Giant Clam Pearls | Tridacna Gigas

    Yes, "in a sac" narrowed the scope erroneously on several pearl types. Even the term "blister" is too narrow because it encompasses other distinct types. There are three main subgroups... internal, external and a combination of both for onset. Each of these groups can be subdivided into other...
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    PSA - Fake Giant Clam Pearls | Tridacna Gigas

    Relegation to concretion status is odd when several pearl types are elegantly foliated calcite, namely order Pectinidae and most gastropods. However those are pearls of natural origin. While natural pearl identification is a thing in the labs, the term non-nacreous stemmed from the cultural...
  10. L

    FIRE TEST and polishes flying :))

    Using large, perfectly round natural gulf pearls to make imitation pearls is a novel idea.
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    Help identify this Pearl Ring

    The pearl is drilled, most likely repurposed. The bezel is factory rolled silver. The hand written spectral analysis is inadequate if not entirely bogus. Why photograph and submit a transcribed scrap of paper, when a photo of the lab certificate would have been infinitely simpler?
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    I think it's around 150-200 years old

    You state microscopic examination but have not provided supporting documentation of the type, examiner or protocol. You have also stated the items were aged, but have not provided evidence of this either. In either instance, these are not tests typically performed by jewellers instead by...
  13. L

    I think it's around 150-200 years old

    The xray views, though low resolution have visible bisected growth fronts at the nucleus. These are cultured pearls.
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    Restringing jade

    Non-uniform colours may support natural colour. And yes, bad dye might too. Beads are less likely to be resin filled, which is likely why your expert suggested natural. All good observations. Undersized holes can be made bigger with a diamond round file, but may affect how the bead nests later...
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    over 200 year old pearls

    Does anyone see the year of seasons in the piece? Winter snow at the top, through spring flowers to summer days. Fall colours, then winter.
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    over 200 year old pearls

    Yes a curious piece. Proveneance at face value, the pearls certainly would be natural. They do look natural at first glance merely by size. Very random in selection criteria although strict in the measure for uniformity to one another in size. They've been drilled so that very often means...
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    Superficial scratch or discoloration?

    A healthy pearl sac needs to stretch a lot, hence juvenile cells tend to form uniformly over the entire surface. It's not a perfect world though. Spontaneous stretch marking isn't uncommon, thus replaced with calcite (as opposed to aragonite) at high times during a growth period. Over exertion...
  18. L

    An Exceptional Melo Melo Pearl

    What is the country of origin?
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    Should i get these tested?

    Having not seen these in person and taking your provenance at face value, they've scored equally in my cursory examination. Anything => 50% (natural v cultural) merits a trip to the lab. Possibly a mixed strand. Either way, it's a very nice piece. Thank you for sharing it with us.
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    Article - Pearl Prices Driven Up by Chinese Demand!

    It may sound good on the face of it, but as supply and demand issues are coupled with inflation and tariffs, the economy suffers. So long as farmers buy everything retail and sell everything at wholesale, more for less is not a good expectation.
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