blister pearl

[Weng]

I'm a rare pearl collector.

Can this be a pearl?

Need your comments.

thanks.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I see two pearls.

The smaller one is a blister. The large one perhaps, but it looks more like a conjoined pearl from this angle.

What species of scallop is that?

 

[Weng]

Dave, i think this a tridacna clam.

 

[Weng]

Dave, can you comment on this piece?

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Tridacna gigas are CITES listed as endangered. While food and shell harvesting is legal in some countries, importing uncertified Giant clam meat/shell/pearls into many countries is not permitted.

CITES - Tridacna gigas

Despite their enormous sizes, pearls from these spectacular clams are largely undesirable gem quality. They tend to be highly calcareous, misshapen and weighty. Some smaller, younger pearls have chatoyant patterns, but those are very rare and occasionally of misrepresented origin.

Likewise, they have limited scientific value once removed from the specimen and location.

 

[GemGeek]

Dave is right. Although they are not common, once the giant size concretions are cut from the shell, they lose value. Attempts to polish them reduce the value further. The blister on the shell in the first photo is much more likely to fetch a good price as long as it remains attached to the shell.

 

[Weng]

Thank you Dave.

 

[Weng]

Gemeek, thank you. I know your inputs will be of help to me.

 

[Weng]

Hi Dave. Do you know the requirements if somebody wish to display a pearl in an exhibition fare, e.g., Pearl Exhibit in Hong Kong or elsewhere? And how is it done? Are there handlers to guarantee the safety of the pearls.

I'm offering some of my collections to be displayed for pearl enthusiasts to see the beauty of gigantic pearls.

thank you.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Hi Dave. Do you know the requirements if somebody wish to display a pearl in an exhibition fare, e.g., Pearl Exhibit in Hong Kong or elsewhere? And how is it done? Are there handlers to guarantee the safety of the pearls.

I'm offering some of my collections to be displayed for pearl enthusiasts to see the beauty of gigantic pearls.

thank you.

I not very familiar with trade shows, but there are several members of P-G who are.

I would advise however, that you provide certification of Tridacna (or other listed species) from the country of origin. Not necessarily for the purposes of shows, but for inspection during international travel. Much the same as ivory, pelts etc.

 

[Weng]

Thank you so much, Dave.