Adult Jelly Bean!

[GemGeek]

Thought you'd like to see this incredible conch pearl - total flame. Hard to photograph, though because I couldn't get the right kind of light source, but I think you can get the idea. 2.11 carats.





The flame gets washed out wherever the light hits directly. Hmmm....

 

[lisa c]

Can-dle! Can-dle! Can-dle! Yes?

 

[GemGeek]

It only transmits light near the edge where it is semi-transparent.

 

[lisa c]

Oh. Well, see, I learned something new from you anyway - again! Thanks, Blaire

(...I was just thinking, wouldn't it be cool if we were all in a dorm and we could just trot the pearl down (or) up to Steve's room and have him digi-scope-pic it? I think college dorms came to mind as I read Danachit's Re-surfacing post, not that I ever lived in one. I shared off-campus ap'ts.)

 

[SteveM]

Blaire, it's a classic. If it were 10 carats it would be a world-class pearl of frightening value. And I note the latitudinal crystallization that threw me for a loop once before. Is it for sale?

(...I was just thinking, wouldn't it be cool if we were all in a dorm and we could just trot the pearl down (or) up to Steve's room?)

It's up (the attic).

 

[lisa c]

Up! Attic! it is then

We all live in a pearly submarine,
Pearly submarine,
Pearly submarine

 

[Caitlin]

Up! Attic! it is then

We all live in a pearly submarine,
Pearly submarine,
Pearly submarine

You are such a lovable goof! I'll never hear this song again without thinking about your change to it!
Thanks for the smile you put on my face!

 

[lisa c]

And thank you for the same, Caitlin! Education, Friends and Fun, all found here, and, I've learned how to read PG, drink coffee and laugh without it going up my nose!

...Our friends are all aboard,
Ev'ry one of us
Has all we need

Cortez Blue,
Fiji green,
In our pearly
Submarine,
Ah ha...

Late night Riffs (reefs, hehe) are sometimes irresistible. Love you all, thanks for putting up with it in the spirit of fun!!!

and of course, worshipful creds offered to some of the Musical Geniuses of our times, The Beatles, Yellow Submarine; all suitable apologies for mangling the lyrics, ie, out of order, etc

 

[GemGeek]

It is for sale. It's not mine, though. It belongs to a world-class gemologist and was hand-picked for him by Sue Hendrickson.

 

[SteveM]

Twice-removed from source, but what incredible pedigree! (Not to mention Sue's paleontological roots directly linking her with illuminati in the Nautilus field?)

 

[CortezPearls]

WOW!!! That is one BIG Jellybean!!! Its flame is superb even under low-light conditions!

 

[SteveM]

That is one BIG Jellybean!!!

Douglas, it's about 4.5 inches long on my screen?

But at 2.11 carats it looks to be an oval about 7-8mm in length and 4-5mm in width, a perfect miniature (and not so terribly small for a symmetrical conch, either).

 

[SteveM]

?at 2.11 carats it looks to be an oval about 7-8mm in length and 4-5mm in width, a perfect miniature (and not so terribly small for a symmetrical conch, either).

As it turns out, 8.56mm in length by 6.08mm and 5.24mm in width. Not too far off!

This pearl stays 'in the family', a quick photo and two digital micro shots below. Photo focus is not optimal, but the intense color (actually was tempted to desaturate), surface, shape and flame are evident, all sides offering equal interest. On top of that, personally selected for a world-class gemologist by Sue Hendrickson, the 'queen' of conch.

While my natural collection as documented on P-G has evolved from rare to esoteric, a superlative conch has always been on my list and this one had my name on it from Blaire's initial post.

 

[KAC]

Steve those close up pictures on the right are really doing it for me. With every picture you post I'm digging natural pearls more and more....

 

[Caitlin]

You've built a stellar collection of naturals. It is museum-worthy

 

[waimeamomi]

Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum. Gulp!

 

[pattye]

You've built a stellar collection of naturals. It is museum-worthy

And endlessly fascinating! Thank you again for sharing your passion!

 

[GemGeek]

A flaming masterpiece - great photos! It is small, but it's as perfect as a conch pearl can get. And your collection needed some pink, right?!!!

 

[Caitlin]

Congrats, Blaire! Do you feel like a matchmaker? Such a perfect pair......

 

[KAC]

By naturals I believe you refer in this case to non-nacreous pearls

Well by naturals I mean naturally occurring pearls, nacreous and non-nacreous - I've got the old Strack book out going over all those sections I skimmed/skipped over.

yes they are especially fascinating as the optical phenomenae are not inherent to the material itself (as with the aragonite platelets of nacre), but rather a result of its lucky organization.

You got some darn lucky pearls there Steve