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In the years following publication of The Pearl Book in 1996, saltwater keshi production advanced to such a degree that the labs had to step in with high tech scanning. There was no longer a way to distinguish cultured from natural by eye, The keshi producers made hay "while the sun shined"...

Today is another day, China now at 125%. No rest for the innocent.

Here a conclusion of sorts. While traveling, an order of 18k findings was delivered and has been worked by our jeweler. Per above, the concept of a bail for attaching the tassel directly to the strand was discarded upon receipt, and the idea of hanging the tassel from the clasp came to mind. So...

The resulting intra-day stock market swings would make millions (if not billions) for traders aware of these announcements in advance.

The tariff is on trade value, not pearls per se. I also worked in another sector that has been specifically targeted, European alcohol and wine, which continues under threat of a 200% tariff to shield the US Bourbon industry.

Pearls or types of pearls are not targeted, it's strictly perceived trade imbalance and retribution/"reciprocation" for high tariffs on US products (Fiji a good example). There is no US-grown pearl exporting business per se, although FW culturing does persist on a small scale apparently. The...

Yes they can be cut and used, as with any part of the nacreous shell lining. The Maori in New Zealand make intensive use of MOP from NZ's native Paua (Haliotis iris) species.

All the lists I've seen online show 10% for French Polynesia (and Cook Islands), not 20%.

An aside, any progress in removing the 'C' from CPAA?

They are shell blisters, which are indeed a natural occurrence that inspires mabes. But they are not blister pearls, which would have formed as whole 'cyst' pearls and subsequently become attached to the shell.

Yes you would hope they have diversified markets. Looks like US was the third largest pearl import market in 2023 at $77M, pittance of course compared with the car industry. US also ranks high on the list of pearl exporters, but pearls can't be exported from here until they're imported. I think...

I guess this post really belongs here. An increase of 34% on Chinese FW exports will have to be passed along to one degree or another. Fiji sticks out at 32%, J. Hunter seems to be uniquely targeted there, as French Polynesia scrapes by with just the universal 10%. I believe PP is selling from...

An increase of 34% on Chinese FW exports will have to be passed along to one degree or another. Fiji sticks out at 32%, J. Hunter seems to be uniquely targeted there, as French Polynesia scrapes by with just the universal 10%. I believe PP is selling from large stocks of J. Hunter pearls already...

AI to the rescue! "While strontium itself may not have a taste, it can be associated with salts that create a 'salty' taste, and it can be associated with 'hard' or saline water." Coming from the wine business, never has there been a better case for mandatory spitting… Others here are far...

In the 18 years I've been looking in here the quality of FW has so dramatically improved that visual distinctions are indeed challenging. Labs can differentiate the respective trace minerals (strontium/manganese ratio) which serves to discourage deception. A (hopefully) tongue-in-cheek response...

I would just cross that seller off my list and be thankful for the conch. And don't buy a Melo Melo pearl without a certificate from a top gem lab. There are too many fakes out there. Of course, that also means paying market price.

From Beauty to the Beast! Glad you researched, and that you got your money back. A seller of that sort and a money-back policy would seem antithetical.

Great. The 9x5mm face of the pearl is actually not that small. Sounds like you have a good plan for it.

You're living dangerously! Let us know when you receive the conch. The photo is indeed of a pale pink conch pearl with pervasive flame. What are its dimensions and weight?

Your images will now offer a better chance to comment on ID. Re curiosity just be aware that natural pearls comprise a very small percentage (less than 5%, probably closer to 1%) of the market. The only bases for suspecting natural origin would be direct purchase from an area or dealer...