Rare lavender pearl

[Mkennedy]

I found a lavender porcelain like pearl at a cookout over the weekend. I noticed it before I ate it, it came from a littleneck clam. It’s perfectly round and I found the shell today were it was growing from. I’m super excited to know more about what it’s worth. Also today I took it to a jewelry store today and the gemologist says he’s didn’t know much about natural pearls, he just weighed it and it was 2.52 carats and was 6mm. Any info on it would be great about its worth.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Keep the shell!

 

[ennui]

Sarah at Kojima Pearl has a section on her website where she will help you evaluate a quahog pearl. https://kojimapearl.com/pages/quahog-pearls

 

[Mkennedy]

Keep the shell!

Will do what’s the best way to preserve the shell and also where it won’t stink lol

 

[SteveM]

Just keep it together with the pearl, no harm rinsing it. Pearl appears to merit a high-end setting, which will allow for a generous offer.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Congratulations. This pearl presents with features typically observed in it's class. Unlike other gemological pearl types, these bivalves are distinguished by having the two halves of the shell equally sized. In pearl reared species, normally the left valve is quite flat while the right is cupped. Being, homogenic in onset, the structure reflects the structure of the shell. It's largely calcareous, with minor aragonite. Purple colours almost always imply the thinnest pearl sacs, simply because the elegantly terminated crystals have no other alignment in the available space. While not highly spectacular on a world scale, it's a true gemstone nonetheless.

The surface is uniform, as is the colour. Despite the absence of higher gemological features expected from oriental or austral pearls, occidental pearls fulfill a desirable requirement for some discerning collectors. Edible clams as we know them have a small, but important niche market for their pearls. The purple colour, while not necessarily rare (I see it all the time) is considered uncommon, especially when gemologically described. Most pearls found in "steamers" tend to be inferior in so many ways to cultured pearls.

Just keep it together with the pearl, no harm rinsing it. Pearl appears to merit a high-end setting, which will allow for a generous offer.

I agree with SteveM. The pairing of the object and it's host adds value. Finding a worthy natural pearl is not an everyday occurrence, thus retaining them, you may be among those who have. It's almost always my recommendation holding the item as a keepsake. It's an attractive pearl and a good story. The artist in me would be delighted to fashion this into something beautiful and special. Thank you for sharing it with us.

 

[Mkennedy]

Congratulations. This pearl presents with features typically observed in it's class. Unlike other gemological pearl types, these bivalves are distinguished by having the two halves of the shell equally sized. In pearl reared species, normally the left valve is quite flat while the right is cupped. Being, homogenic in onset, the structure reflects the structure of the shell. It's largely calcareous, with minor aragonite. Purple colours almost always imply the thinnest pearl sacs, simply because the elegantly terminated crystals have no other alignment in the available space. While not highly spectacular on a world scale, it's a true gemstone nonetheless.

The surface is uniform, as is the colour. Despite the absence of higher gemological features expected from oriental or austral pearls, occidental pearls fulfill a desirable requirement for some discerning collectors. Edible clams as we know them have a small, but important niche market for their pearls. The purple colour, while not necessarily rare (I see it all the time) is considered uncommon, especially when gemologically described. Most pearls found in "steamers" tend to be inferior in so many ways to cultured pearls.

I agree with SteveM. The pairing of the object and it's host adds value. Finding a worthy natural pearl is not an everyday occurrence, thus retaining them, you may be among those who have. It's almost always my recommendation holding the item as a keepsake. It's an attractive pearl and a good story. The artist in me would be delighted to fashion this into something beautiful and special. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Wow this is a lot of new information thank you guys for sharing your knowledge I really appreciate it! I’d love to get it appraised and see what the value could be

 

[SteveM]

Wow this is a lot of new information thank you guys for sharing your knowledge I really appreciate it! I’d love to get it appraised and see what the value could be

Sarah at Kojima is going to want 360ª shots to see all sides, if you could also share them here we will be happy to chime in. Value is also determined by what one is willing to pay, and whether buyer is wholesale, retail or direct. Agree with Lagoon Island Pearls that whatever appraised value the pearl may achieve pales in comparison to the serendipity of finding it and devising a suitable setting for it.

 

[Mkennedy]

Sarah at Kojima is going to want 360ª shots to see all sides, if you could also share them here we will be happy to chime in. Value is also determined by what one is willing to pay, and whether buyer is wholesale, retail or direct. Agree with Lagoon Island Pearls that whatever appraised value the pearl may achieve pales in comparison to the serendipity of finding it and devising a suitable setting for it.

I took a bunch of photos to share with you guys and to get your opinions thanks again

 

[Mkennedy]

I’m hoping these are decent for you guys to take a look and see what you think!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Beautiful-- and I would LOVE to have found that!
I would keep it and display it, if it were me.

 

[Mkennedy]

Beautiful-- and I would LOVE to have found that!
I would keep it and display it, if it were me.

Thank you! I guess I caught some luck but yes i agree a display would look nice!

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Good images. I'm impressed by the near roundness. The colour and lustre are alright, but not outstanding. Again, this is typical for a clam pearl so it's not necessarily a discredit to it's quality. When pearls mature they'll get larger in size, but they'll also show their age by giving up some of the "baby fine" surface qualities we'd expect from production pearls.

 

[Mkennedy]

Thanks! It’s extremely round I set it down and it wants to roll away…that’s understandable and makes perfect sense, would this be something worth getting appraised?

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Thanks! It’s extremely round I set it down and it wants to roll away…that’s understandable and makes perfect sense, would this be something worth getting appraised?

Not necessarily. Pricing is very subjective. It's a clam pearl. There is no dispute as such so there is no great need for a lab report. You could insure it for whatever you think it's worth. The roundness adds value, but overall it's medium quality.

I wouldn't expect high offers, especially in this economy. This is why retaining the item is often more satisfying.

 

[SteveM]

The shape and consistency of color are high merits, just a bit lacking in luster, darker shade or other optical 'pop' for top quality. But in a minimal ring setting with complementary stone elements it could be phenomenal.