American cultured pearls?

[Adeline Leigh]

I just saw this FB post from Laurie Kaiser Jewelry (fabulous new line) and the cryptic caption had me come running to PG to ask, "Does anyone know anything about this?"

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.p...23141700163.275605.96926320163&type=1&theater

Picture is captioned in LKJ's post as, "American cultured pearls. Five years in the making by the hardest working oysters in the industry."

 

[pattye]

Adeline,

Would you be willing to email her and ask?

 

[Lindaphillipsbong]

Now that I have graduated to "ready for grafting", I think I will begin offering my learned opinion.
These pearls have pumpkin seeds inside them.
Linda.

 

[Adeline Leigh]

LOL, Linda. They are intriguingly shaped, just like the Chinese lute called pipa.

American pearls like pumpkin seeds and Chinese pipa. Ironic.

Pattye, I've sent her message. Let's see if she'd respond and is ready to reveal

Can anyone make out the species of the oyster?

I sure hope this is not a April Fool's Day joke. Oh even if it is, heck, t'was a good one; I fell for it!

 

[Caitlin]

If it is not an April fool's joke, then who is the producer? American Pearl Company? They used to grow American freshwaters with beads inside, though I do not remember that shape. They still have some for sale, but I thought they were more conventionally shaped.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Can anyone make out the species of the oyster?

The shell appears to be abalone. The adductor scar covers almost the entire photograph.

I doubt it has any relationship to the pumpkin seeds other than demonstration.

 

[Adeline Leigh]

Update:

Laurie declined to mention what she knew by adroitly ignoring my questions. Can't blame her if she had first dibs. Apparently it is no April Fool's Day joke. Two of the pearls from the batch above are being set into a pair of earrings for a wedding. Will beg for a picture.

Yes, Dave, indeed, it does look like an abalone but did these pearls originate from that? Most likely the shell was just a prop?

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Yes, Dave, indeed, it does look like an abalone but did these pearls originate from that? Most likely the shell was just a prop?

They don't look anything like abalone pearls.

If I had to guess, she proably stumbled on a stash of them somewhere and is re-marketing them.

 

[pattye]

Adeline,

Thanks much for for asking Laurie. If they are something new from the US I hope we hear about it soon. Check this out, may be her sourcehttp://www.americanpearlcompany.com/pearl_guide/2.htm also more on the next page. Lots of shapes to ogle~

 

[Adeline Leigh]

You are absolutely right. American pearls, what fun.