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Agreed. Upon cursory examination, it fails on most points. The dimple has some similarity, but absent of distinguishable growth frontage, so even on that point scores < 50%. Clearly, any expert worth their salt would not, nor could not arrive at this being a genuine pearl, no less of natural origin.

Thank you for the additional array of images. Which experts? Which tests? Was the "chest full of mud" wet, dry or a combination of both? How long was it in that situation? Please understand, I am scientifically objective in my approach to identification. thus unsupported subjectivity may be...

The imagery is inadequate for identification. Please revisit your photography by placing the object on a flat white surface and using a full frame macro setting. Likewise please provide other information, such as it's dimensions, where it originated, how you acquired it and any other useful...

I also agree. Natural colour is borne of protein, where dyes infiltrate calcite. Much of the fade in naturals results from occlusion by reverted calcite (as opposed to merely disappearing). The mantles (pearl sacs) of these are almost always the least possible thickness to be viable. As such...

The size, colour and surface quality suggest abalone origin.

I agree. Most epifaunal species rarely surpass a decade. Some epibenthic species may live longer. Geoducks can live up to 100 years, but they have a high resistance to predation and physical damage for living deep within the sediments.

You are correct in the context that differentiation is highly subjective. Objective differentiation is much more complex, even for scientists in those fields. Unravelling genetic codes (DNA) and micro chemical analysis have limitations, thus greater burdens are in place to be conclusive.

Judging by the numerous flat spots and visible centres, they appear to me as dyed grafted/re-grafted button nuclei. Polishing will make things worse.

Extraordinary!

A prudent measure. Topical applications of antibiotics are infinitely better than systemic indications, especially for prophylaxis. Aside from being more economical it also reduces the likelihood of increased resistance in other species. Even then, the efficacy of antibiotics applies mainly to...

As a rule of thumb (even with broad spectrum antibiotics), you can't indicate what you can't stain. In fact, treatment may not be necessary at all. Cross that bridge if or when you get there.

30 hours is not a problem for relaying mussels so long as the shell stock is cooled, immersed and oxygenated. However, without adequate quarantine measures you run the risk of introducing invasive species and/or diseases.

I'd suspect purple has the highest incidence of occurrence thus breeding for it offers a greater opportunity to select among the strongest genetic expressions.

On that we agree. While I suspect numerous sham, scam and spam posts never see the light of day by the admins, these ought to stand for rebuke. For the sake of consumer protection and broader education. On a side note, it demonstrates the effort by the admins to screen this stuff behind the...

My thoughts exactly. The three white pieces may be tridacna pearls, but the purple and tan are beads.

Social media influencers (otherwise unemployed models looking for free stuff) broadly appear in staged settings, not real life situations while their numbers are almost always bot driven.

These charlatans sometimes go to great length to put a lustrous polish on the shell. Little do they realize it's not what experts look for. Most often these are cut from the thickest part of the shell, which is called the umbo. Each and every one seen by me to date reveal bisected growth fronts...

Purple results from the thinnest epithelial structures. The best example being most bivalves present as purple along the margins where two shells meet. Proteins indeed play a role, but much of the purple colour is perceived by the flat orientation of aragonite in a minimal space. Colourful...

It all adds up too. *palms forehead* Works for mabes why not the nuke? 20-23mm is some serious tunnelling though, no less with mussels. That is a lot of expansion! They lean to purple colour which usually dictates the pearl sac is at or near minimum thickness. It takes time to expand tissue, no...

Hi MarinH20, My apologies for missing this thread. Congratulations on your find! The food oyster Crassostrea virginica is widely produced and/or occurs naturally on the east coast of North America. Occasionally, pearls may be found. I believe Cookes Cove oysters are dredged in the wild, hence...