Stunning Scallop Pearl (Atlantic) collection

[pierrettedE]

Hello guys!

A young lady came to my studio a few days ago with an amazing collection of scallop pearl given to her by a friend. She intended to add them to her aquarium but decided to come by first!!!

I was floored. NOT aquarium material. I've managed to match some quite well and there are even quite a few round, near round, button and symetricals. A very large oval pearl is the star, however.

I am posting a few photos here or the group as well as some "sets" I was able to put together. Stunning!

Pierrette d'Entremont

(DARN GOOD MATCHING POSSIBLE -CENTRE ~9MM)
(GRADUATING ROUNDS, SIZE/COLOUR)
(OTHER POSSIBLILITY)
(COLLECTION)
(SOME SIZE REF, TOP FAR LEFT IS OVAL)
(GROUP OF ROUND, NEAR ROUND, BUTTONS, SYM)

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Most definitely NOT aquarium material. I had to pick myself off the floor too.

No doubt, a rare and valuable collection.

Are these Digbys? (Placopecten magellanicus)

 

[pierrettedE]

Hello! To be honest, I have to ask her if they are from the Digby side or the East coast off NS. I will post an update when I know. But yes, a very beautiful collection with some pearls showing some of that patchwork fire and even some with glossy almost aurora like "swishes".

I think she would like a valuation if possible, but I have no idea!?

Pierrette

 

[pattye]

Pierrette,

Thank you for showing the lovely and large collection of naturals! What interesting combinations you've put together!

 

[pierrettedE]

here are few others that may show size better:

 

[pierrettedE]

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Without cataloguing and examining each piece individually, it's near-to-impossible to evaluate the lot accurately.

Size, volume and shape are quite evident from these photos, which bring value. As does provenance.

Scallops are not reknown for nacreous surface perfection and as such demerits value. However, there does appear to be a few with unique and attractive features. Many other species of naturals aren't nacreous either, but do fetch decent prices.

Apart from market value, there is a wealth of scientific value here as well.

For the time, it's prudent to keep this collection entire, as opposed to piecemeal disposition.

So very exciting to behold another set of Canadian naturals.

 

[GemGeek]

Simply amazing. I can't help but wonder how someone amassed such a splendid cache of pearls.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Simply amazing. I can't help but wonder how someone amassed such a splendid cache of pearls.

Probably working as a shucker.

 

[Bodecia]

Amazing pearls. Love them all but especially the ones you are holding. They are a couple of stunners. So many gorgeous pearls.

Just wonderful. Just to see the photos is a pleasure but to see them walk into your shop. WOW.


Dawn - Bodecia
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 - natural pearl collector and all round pearl lover.

 

[pierrettedE]

Location:

Location:

*These were from the coast between Yarmouth and Cape Island, Nova Scotia.

 

[pierrettedE]

Without cataloguing and examining each piece individually, it's near-to-impossible to evaluate the lot accurately.

Size, volume and shape are quite evident from these photos, which bring value. As does provenance.

Scallops are not reknown for nacreous surface perfection and as such demerits value. However, there does appear to be a few with unique and attractive features. Many other species of naturals aren't nacreous either, but do fetch decent prices.

Apart from market value, there is a wealth of scientific value here as well.

For the time, it's prudent to keep this collection entire, as opposed to piecemeal disposition.

So very exciting to behold another set of Canadian naturals.

Yes, i have seen many local scallop pearls but within this collection there are at least a half dozen that are rounds and quite a few large ones with very interesting "glow". Another note is that none seem to be smaller than about 3mm.

PdE

 

[pierrettedE]

more photos

more photos

They are so cool!!! I keep finding set matches. These are some rounds and buttons.





PdE

 

[Caitlin]

How fantastic those pearls are! Some almost seem nacreous, or at least very glowy. Thanks for thinking of us! Hope to see some of these set. (Can they be drilled?)

 

[pierrettedE]

Hi Caitlin! Yeah they can be drilled. I drilled a few in the past and/or just set them in pendants, but there are quite a few here that I don't really want to touch quite yet I'm not certain that they want to keep them as the pearls are not your typical or desirable(?) "jewellery" item. They are a very very young couple with school, life and other things to do

es, some are super "glowy", you can see the layers of 'patchwork' within them. I've never seen so many that were so glossy. The Digby scallop pearls I've seen seem less smooth or glossy and the only explanation I can think of is that these come from the exterior where it's probably cooler than thge Bay of Fundy (COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS WELCOME!). Refer to the map above and look at Didgy to see what I mean.

Pde

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

there are quite a few here that I don't really want to touch quite yet I'm not certain that they want to keep them as the pearls are not your typical or desirable(?) "jewellery" item. They are a very very young couple with school, life and other things to do

We've said it many times, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While not for everyone, for some collectors, the more unusual, the better. This is why leaving them undrilled and as a set allows collectors or jewelcrafters to judge for themselves.

some are super "glowy", you can see the layers of 'patchwork' within them. I've never seen so many that were so glossy.

Agreed. There are some remarkable pearls in this collection. Certainly not typical, but desireable nonetheless.

The Digby scallop pearls I've seen seem less smooth or glossy and the only explanation I can think of is that these come from the exterior where it's probably cooler than the Bay of Fundy

Environmental variations can certainly present differences in the same species.

Was the collector a boat owner? Deckhand? Plant Shucker?

The reason I ask is because you seem certain as to a specific region of harvest.

 

[pierrettedE]

I believe the collector was a deckhand (shucker) on a scallop dragger in that region.

 

[007]

I had no idea there were pearls coming out of the Bay of Fundy or any part of the coast of Nova Scotia. Did not expect to see this come up in the forum. Cool.

 

[SteveM]

Pierrette, Dave and others close to or beyond the US northern frontier are obviously more informed than the rest of us, and this thread has opened my eyes to new wonders.

The better pearls here are beautiful and unique. For those familiar with the Nautilus discussion, these pearls repesent a similar, albeit less mysterious phenomenon: Not nacreous, but not crossed-lamellar (conch, melo, tridacna, etc). In this case, not even aragonite. The unique material responsible for these, and Lion's Paw Scallop pearls from Baja California, is foliated calcite, also known as 'semi-nacre'. The optics are fascinating. (LINK to the abstract from a research paper by Antonio Checa, 2007.)

The king of Digby Scallop Pearls is apparently Craig Fancy. I'm posting a ring of his with a beautiful Scallop Pearl in order to add perspective to the best pearls in this collection, which compare very favorably.

 

[pierrettedE]

I had no idea there were pearls coming out of the Bay of Fundy or any part of the coast of Nova Scotia. Did not expect to see this come up in the forum. Cool.

yes, there are blue mussel pearls as well (These are my favorite and most researched) and some quahog, though processing methods and actual disdain for the concretions keep them rather unexposed. (crunchy clam chower due to a ground up pearl would have a negative impact -not to mention possible legal consequences- on companies.)

PdE