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I looked and re-read the description carefully and didn't see any reference to the sea lion being a blister pearl, but just to it's being baroque. It is a truly beautiful pearl and it brings to my mind the few blisters I have found in the shells of the black abalone, Haliotis cracherodii...

Aha! So they occur in this form in Pauas too! It looks like there is more than one cluster there. (?) Beautiful. Do you remember the sizes of them? Oh yes--of course--there is a good example in the second picture that HopePaua posted. . . Again--beautiful! Marc...

Here's an oddball abalone shell that I received recently. It's not a crab leg, but it seems that an abalone will try to cover whatever encroaches on it!:rolleyes: Another year or two down the line would have been interesting to see... Marc Http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

Wow! Those are fabulous!! The ones that formed right in the muscle scar are really interesting. They may be much like the pearls that formed in the muscle scar that New Zealand Natural Pearl showed us a while back. Do you think that they are solid pearls? Did that shell come from New Zealand...

Since I was going out to snap some quick photos of a couple odd shells this evening, I grabbed the shell with the amazing double solid (I think) blister. I haven't done anything with it yet but I had to show it off. It measures about 12mm X 7.5mm and is beautiful. Interestingly, it happened to...

Well--yes. After 15+ years of searching for the blisters, I do have a few. (Boxes. . . ) ...and I'm just starting into putting some jewelry together. It's kind of exciting. I have some really cool ones. I haven't had time to dig out the shell that sort of compares to the shell that New Zealand...

Julianner: You're quite welcome. One thing to keep in mind is that in almost all cases (99.9%) a physical/mechanical attachment is stronger than one done with glue. The exception to this is the Post and glue method and, done right, it is more of a physical lock than a chemical bond and it should...

My 35+ years of experience in this area says that there are more factors to this than one might think. To start with, on the subject of setting pearls with glue: Is this a design where the pearl will be standing proud or will it be cemented into a recess? How much of a recess? What is the size...

I agree as well. It's a lovely display item. I keep a number of shells, agates and other materials that I've bought as cutting rough in the house. Visitors enjoy looking at them. Do you happen to know if it is cultured? It has the appearance of one. If so, then I'm sure that if you wanted one...

Oh! Sorry--I guess the Pacific does take in a lot of territory! :o Specifically, I meant the west coast of the United States and what I have seen of abalones from the Pacific coast and Baha California in Mexico. My experience with the abalones from Mexico is somewhat limited, though. :( In...

I believe that to qualify with Stuller you simply need to have a resale number and submit an application. They deal with the size of one's operation/purchases by the fact that when you buy items in larger quantities they cost less. As for Fed Ex, the reason that they only ship with them is that...

A very wealthy man once advised me: "There are wealthy people who won't buy things if they are too inexpensive. They feel that paying a lot for things enhances others' perceptions of them." It's the "street cred.":rolleyes: Marc http://flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

I would have to say that the type of pearl formation you show there is definitely not common in the Pacific--at least in my experience. I do have a very few shells that show at least the beginnings of formations like what is in the whole shell that you have posted, but I don't think that any of...

I just happened to notice this afternoon that Stuller Findings lists findings for body jewelry. I'm not sure what they're like though. They can be reached during business hours at: 1-800-877-7777. Marc http://www.flyrodjewelry.com

I just recently found (again--I'd lost track of it. . .) An abstract of a paper by Dr. Grahame Brown of Queensland, Australia, detailing his findings concerning small, solid pearls discovered by Lou Hill of Wellington, NZ in masses found within the shell wall of Haliotis Iris. Some of them are...

Pretty much defines "precious pearl" doesn't it? Marc

Ooo-o-h-h-h Sueki--Tell you what: just do an eBay search with the key words "natural pearl" and see what comes up. Then let us see you make that same statement with a straight face! I too have been using eBay for many years and I almost always do well with it. However, I have some very strict...

There is a kinetic aspect to this piece that seems to have been missed so far. I designed some pendants a few years ago that used side-drilled pearls with a wire running through the hole loosely enough for them to move easily and people seemed to enjoy the way that they could rock, or in some...

My--the selection of naturals above is absolutely georgeous! Could you give us an idea of the range of sizes (mm) in that little group? Marc http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home.html