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I would reflect that beyond my particular interest in naturals for their spontaneous beauty, this forum has made sure to keep my eyes wide open. From a jewelry standpoint I am drawn to pendants for their focus and individuality, and bracelets that can be equally enjoyed by wearer and watcher.

Not only the strand is beautiful, but the eye of the owner is apparent in the photography. Such a good eye portends well for future acquisitions! Commendation to Pomelo for this very refreshing opportunity to reflect.

Reech's two threads regarding this pearl have featured an interest in the flame phenomenon. Flame is not an expected feature of Quahog pearls. Cassis Cornuta (Horned Helmut) here provides a memorable example. This image of mine was once reposted right here at Pearl-Guide by some shady operator...

Quahog value is more related to color (pinks and purples from the outer lip of the shell are the most rare) than to flame. Your pearl is white, but it has attractive shape and lustre, and no visible signs of heat damage. For an appraisal, you should approach the online dealers you have already...

Reech, this has been well covered over on your "Egg Shaped" thread. I'm looking forward to seeing the ring you proposed for this pearl!

Without delay!!!

Wendy, thanks so much. We are now better prepared for our trip to the jeweler.

Gem Show / AGTA 2011. We shared a dinner table with Elizabeth Strack. Memory Lane! Image below that would have appeared on the Nautilus thread. Very large pearl, 50+ carats, which we fondly named "Badai Sempurna" ("The Perfect Storm" in its native Indonesian).

Seeing this belatedly. Candling has gotten a lot of exposure here, not the least by me as we all wondered at the strange vortical growth patterns inside the large white pearls that were coming my way for a time (posted at Nautilus pearl). This white shell material is quite translucent. Although...

Almudena and I had the pleasure of meeting Edgar and his sister Liz and to speak at length. Edgar was carefully louping the flame on our Kima (clam) pieces before introducing himself. He started bringing out pouches of pearls from every pocket, bringing to mind a ring of great sentimental value...

And it's suddenly dawning on me that my pearl initiation during a visit to the Cook Islands in 2006 coincided with a time that Cook Islands 'black pearls' were struggling to recover from cyclones and not at all predictable in terms of color. Lots of gray pearls. So you can imagine how the Poe...

One of the best 'tit for tats' ever here at Pearl-Guide! Beautiful Tahitians.

Reech, are you aware of the sort of clam in which your grandfather found his pearl? Was he on the US East Coast as you are currently? Beyond that, the only thing left to say is: 'Good Luck!'

The pearl should retain $100/ct as a symmetrical natural pearl, there would be added value for special optical phenomena that may or may not have existed prior to any heat degradation.

I optimistically did not assume the mollusk had been cooked, at least to an excessive degree. Grandfather may have spoken of this, in addition to clam species and location. Here is a project of mine from a few years ago using a 9 carat button pearl, with flame on top. A similar claw...

The last photos downloaded with delay, just seeing now. A simple adjustment to exposure and contrast shows more detail of the subsurface structure. It is organized perpendicular to the core vs. radial, so a classic flame pattern would not result. This would follow the shell microstructure of...

Reech, thanks for the PM and as agreed we'll continue here for everyone. That's great you found Kari Pearls, where realistic pricing and examples of flame are shown. As you have seen from those photos, flame effect in clam pearls is typically found at the top and bottom of the pearls due to the...

Your grandfather's pearl has a very nice shape and size for a ring. It would be good to see a couple of photos using your camera's best macro setting while shining another light directly on the pearl from different angles attempting to 'excite' the flame. This would also be helpful to determine...

For a three-keshi pendant lot from Sea of Cortez we are just waiting on two-sided 24k/diamond findings for Hisano to finish. BUT she said she would try to bring the pearls to PBTB tomorrow to preview the piece for my wife. I looked but could not immediately find a photo from the live stream...

Looks like we're in business! On both the tin cup and rope from Kojima, they really hold one's attention.