Pearl Guide

By Caitlin Williams and Kathie Hodson

The Pearl

Millions of dollars, arranged murder, historical fabrications, journeys across vast oceans and battles in court? all are attached to what some people have called the ugliest pearl in the world. Complex and treacherous like the myriad folds on the surface of the 14-pound baroque pearl (the world's largest), so too are the tales and trials surrounding the famed Pearl of Allah. Since the day of its discovery, the Pearl of Allah, otherwise known...

Naming Problems

Ever since Shohei Shirai's book "Pearls and Pearl Oysters of the World" (1994) came out, many species that were once believed to be different have been confirmed as actually belonging to one species. Such is the case for the Pinctada imbricata species, that now encompasses species that were once considered unique to one area. Under this name we now have the former species of "Akoya" pearl oysters: P. fucata, P. martensii, P. radiata, P. anomioides, P. vulgaris, and several...

Scallop Pearls Defined
A scallop pearl is a non-nacreous calcareous concretion produced by any member of the Pectinidae (scallop) family. Pectinids are known for their uniquely blue colored "eyes" (actually, known as simple-eyes) found in their mantle and for their ability to "swim" using their shells and mantle to create stong "jet-streams".


Scallop Pearls, the Pacific "Lion's Paw"
Unlike other non-nacreous pearls such as the melo-melo and conch pearls, the scallop pearl comes from a...

Pinctada nigra (Gould, 1850)


Common Synonyms
P. atropurpurea (Dunker, 1852)
P. flexuosa (Reeve, 1857)
P. sheepmakeri (Dunker, 1872)
P. reentsii (Dunker, 1872)
P. tristis (Dunker, 1872)
P. natalensis (Jameson, 1901)

















P. nigra pearls are rare and generally inferior. They were used historically for traditional medicine and inexpensive decoration. This species is found in South Africa, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Borneo and Madagascar.


Related Articles:

Pearl...

The Pinctada fucata/martensii/radiata/imbricata species complex

Naming Problems

Ever since Shohei Shirahi's book "Pearls and Pearl Oysters of the World" (1994) came out, many species that were once believed to be different have been confirmed as actually belonging to one species. Such is the case for the Pinctada imbricata species, that now encompasses species that were once considered unique to one area.
Under this name we now have the former species of "Akoya" pearl oysters: P. fucata...

Pinctada maculata (Gould, 1850)

Distinguishing Characteristics
P. maculata is the smallest of the Pinctada genus. The shell measures barely over 5 cm in length, and the pearls are at most 8 mm in diameter. Nacre color ranges from white to golden and brown. The "pipi" shell is used in Polynesia as a delectable source of food.

A "Pipi" shell with a natural blister in it. Notice the characteristic golden color of the inner shell.
Ecology and Habitat
P. chemnitzii is found on the Northern...