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The ensemble is even better than the individual pieces, and looks fun!

During my search for Cephalopod pearl precedents in the paleontological literature I came across the research of Michael House. His 1960 paper 'Abnormal Growths in Devonian Goniatids' described regular shell blister impressions in the fossil matrix, ascribed to the mollusk's defense against...

Sarah, from a long-lost folder on my computer I recovered just yesterday here is a candid shot from Show & Tell at Pearl Paradise Ruckus in October 2009! I see Marianne, la_corsetiere (Sheri), yourself and dear departed Caitlin.

The SS goldens are stunning quality, and far more interesting and eye-catching than (more expensive) matched color.

Anyone who has been to Perú shopping for 'Baby Alpaca' is familiar with the precautionary advice 'MAYBE Alpaca'.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Nautilus mineralization was the evidence of multiple forms of aragonite microstructure, including both types of nacre (columnar and terraced), a property shared with Ammonites as evidenced by the distinct colors of ammolite originating in the fossilized...

Douglas, Thanks, especially for not leaving me hanging above. My post was a form of chapter-closing. On to beautiful, inexplicably-colorful pearls!

Oh, I'm a fan. Have six clouds, one per segment of my life (I have lived a very segmented life!). A highlight of my research still gives me chills, although it may be hard to explain or understand. I was 'live' when the definitive DNA study was published proving a long-held assumption that...

Of course! Unfortunately I don't know what remains in my files, it was a long time and couple of computer crashes ago. I was subscribed to every known scientific journal. What a frenzied time that was for me proving/disproving the existence of Nautilus pearls! The faculty at University of...

Here's a photo from the 2009 thread (silly at times) I just looked up. Alongside a SOC keshi bracelet, a favorite tragically lost in a vineyard in Spain a few years later. Just missed a keshi lot on the recent SOC live show that would have made a super replacement...

My wife is deathly afraid of magnets from having lost valuable pieces in the past. Lost an SOC Keshi bracelet in Spain, changed a magnet to standard clasp on a Cook Island keshi bracelet upon return. Obviously, it's a tradeoff. (And maybe not a good idea to be hiking in steep vineyards with a...

Douglas, be sure to bring your pocket UV, we'll have that natural strand from Jeremy Norris mixed Pteria Sterna / Pteria Pinguin (we called it 'Pteria Ptimes Ptwo'), we can look for the difference. I think Jeremy had them alternating, Marianne restrung it for us one time and I think she switched...

We'll have to talk at PBTB about not allowing such a gathering to occur in our own backyard without us again!

To commiserate, if only I had all the money I spent on researching Nautilus Pompilius biology and paleontology for that thread as a continuing pearl budget! At the risk of becoming Wendy's spokesperson, while all lines of research are fascinating and worthwhile, we could end up backsliding...

My Google profile is Maimonides' head from his statue in the Barrio Judío of Córdoba, one of my favorite places. What a great man! Yes we can only live now, Earth was not always blue (it was white as 'Snowball Earth' and green during 'The Great Dying') and is predicted to return to those states...

Convincing corroboration to Wendy's postulation: "We're just lucky!"

We reawakened that thread and tried again. Answers remain elusive, or the question remains misunderstood.

This would bring this thread full circle, in response to Wendy's question, here or at Pinctada Maculata: "Are we just lucky?" Shell evolution might be categorized distinctly as visual (exterior, camoflage) and microstructure (interior, strength), our human eyes uniquely attuned to the results of...

Shouldn't we be assuming that the premise here applies to natural pearls and the actual origin of the donor DNA?