Candled Natural Pearls

[pattye]

Great conversation, photos and I know more to come! Keep trying to give this thread 5 stars, and I'm reminded I already rated it!

Dawn, what is the power of the microscope? I only have a few naturals, but want to candle them and add photos as soon as I find the time and make the little box.

 

[MSC]

Great conversation, photos and I know more to come! Keep trying to give this thread 5 stars, and I'm reminded I already rated it!

Vote for sticky-ing this thread, it's too educational to lose it amongst the rest!

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I do feel I am getting the hang of it but every now and again one leaves me totally confused.

You definitely are getting the hang of it.

There are visible rings around the hole and the nacre appears thick. Almost automatically, means this pearl's host was in good health. Probably over mature.

In the second image, there are distinct rings around the pearl at distances, but symmetrical to the hole.

Look closely at the edge of the hole, you see branches of calcite radiating outwards. It appears drilled at a blemish.

Ninety percent of the view is contrasted stippling near to the surface.

It's round.

Five points culture, half point natural.

Well done capturing and posting these. Very good views.

 

[GemGeek]

Wow! Those are really interesting photos and BIG! Great job.

 

[Bodecia]

Hi and thanks for your remarks. I agree this thread just has to have a sticky for all the information in it and what we learn from it. Caitlin we need a sticky for it. Help.

CharmedOne and Pattye, you are welcome. At first I was going to recommend the one that I had been using but then I had not been able to get the other one working until today after your question. So hooked it up on my computer and it is working fine via Photo Booth. Prior to learning that it was Photo Booth to work them through I had all kinds of trouble with both and sort of gave up on the stainless one but now I have been taking photos with that one too and they are great without any critical focus problems which I have encountered with the first.



Reason for this is because it has so many working parts that the focus can alter slightly even though it is not being touched so I have to take a lot of photos to get the ones in focus.

So I am having problems with which one to recommend. Give me a day or two before I recommend. I don't want to give anyone a bum steer.
I will give the second microscope a really good work out and then recommend one or the other.

The original that I took the last lot of photos with is the one that Dave recommended as he has one similar although his does not have all the bells and whistles so might be easier for critical focus. On mine just about everything adjusts which might not be such a good thing unless I just got a wonky one. With the stainless steel one I have just started taking photos and so far great and critical focus is easy.

Later I will upload some photos from it and let you see the results.

Thank you GemGeek. I have been working so hard to get these results and would not give up. Barry is thinking I am a little insane.

Dave, thank you so much for your input. Where would we be without you. Lost I think. I was sure the first two were natural but not so sure on the 3rd although I think it is natural. On the fourth I had serious doubts. I take it you are saying number 3 is likely to be natural and number 4 is likely to be cultured. I will try those two again with this other microscope just in case I can take better photos with it.

Pattye, power of first microscope is -

Offers 5X-500X Magnification ratio, captures 2MP still images, streams and records live videos
Ultra-clear image processing technology provides excellent image and video quality
Compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7/8 and Mac OS (driver free)
User-friendly software provides advanced editing, processing and measuring features
Metal stand and built-in white light 8-LED ring light

Will look up the second microscope's info and add it later. Probably similar.

More photos soon on second microscope although have to go into town so won't be able stay up all night working on it.

Dawn - Bodecia
http://www.ebay.com/sch/dawncee333/m.html
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 Natural pearl collector & seller. And all round pearl lover.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I was sure the first two were natural but not so sure on the 3rd although I think it is natural. On the fourth I had serious doubts. I take it you are saying number 3 is likely to be natural and number 4 is likely to be cultured. I will try those two again with this other microscope just in case I can take better photos with it.

1 and 2 possibly natural. I'd like to see more views, 3 not sure, again more views, 4 cultured.

 

[Bodecia]

This is more photos of Number 3 pearl. I have taken them on the other microscope which I am attempting to see if they are better or worse. They do appear different but I need to take a lot more yet.

I do have a lot of pearls to box with details before taking photos of them. I rushed a little today and did not take the time to do it properly - that is putting them in boxes and marking each lot after taking the photos. I relied on my memory which let me down a little.

Thank you Dave. Can you tell me what you make of this one.

I do have other photos and will list soon. But I would like your opinion on which of these 2 microscopic cameras is taking the best photos for our candling purpose. Lots of photos of number 3 pearl probably more than needed although the view is not deep which is not a good sign. Drill hole doesn't make it look cultured but ?...

Dawn - Bodecia
http://www.ebay.com/sch/dawncee333/m.html
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 Natural pearl collector & seller. And all round pearl lover.

 

[Bodecia]

This is a pearl ring with a creamy white pearl but in these photos it is showing up pink. Looks beautiful but that is not the colour.

Opinions?


Dawn - Bodecia
http://www.ebay.com/sch/dawncee333/m.html
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 Natural pearl collector & seller. And all round pearl lover.

 

[Bodecia]

This is a pink pearl but not the brilliant pink you see here. Size 9.5 x 8.40 x 7mm deep. Hard to measure. It has a blemish on the side. I put photos up before of it in Dawn's Pearls if you want to compare. I believe it is a natural pearl but do give opinions.

Also please give your opinions on the way this microscope effects the colour and if that is detrimental to our candling information.


Dawn - Bodecia
http://www.ebay.com/sch/dawncee333/m.html
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 Natural pearl collector & seller. And all round pearl lover.

 

[Bodecia]

Hi All,

Just about ready to give my verdict on the microscopes. I think the last one is the easiest to use especially for critical focus. There is no movement so it makes it easy. Also boxes can be tall and photos can still be taken so I have to go with it. Works for both Macs and other PCs. Both take better photos on my Mac rather than my HP computer.

I have been taking loads of photos and the latest microscopic camera makes it so easy for me. So my recommendation is for 2MP USB Digital Microscope Endoscope Loupe Circuit Board... (400567414235)
photo below. url - http://www.ebay.com/itm/400567414235?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

It costs $52 but I think even the basic models that can be bought for half that do a good job too so don't not get a microscope because of the price. The other microscope I bought cost even more and although good I have trouble with critical focus because it moves itself oh so slightly.

Do let me know if you want to see loads of photos because I am taking them non stop at the moment and having loads of fun. I just don't want to hog the thread but as no one else is listing I guess it will be okay.

Dawn - Bodecia
http://www.ebay.com/sch/dawncee333/m.html
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 Natural pearl collector & seller. And all round pearl lover.

 

[MSC]

Glad to hear your recommendation, Dawn! Is it just my eyes or does it seem like the microscopes don't emit as much light as a flashlight with a pin hole?

 

[Bodecia]

Hi Andrea,

I will list some photos taken with it tomorrow so don't buy yet. Then you can compare the two lots of photos from different microscopic cameras. I am still using a flashlight and a hole in a box. The microscopes have lights but you don't turn them on as then you couldn't take the candling photographs.

Then everyone can judge for themselves. Each microscope tends to alter the colour of pearls in different ways although that doesn't make much sense as I am not using the light from them. They must have different types of lenses which are altering colours. I don't think that alters what we can see inside the pearls but would really like to hear from Dave on that. I will take the same pearl with different microscopes so the differences will be easy to see. I enjoy using this microscope but maybe the way it changes colours will be irritating for some. A little irritating for me but so easy to use. Will work on that tomorrow. Just too late at the moment.

Got to get up to watch the cricket. I am an Aussie after all

Thank you whoever left me Reputation points.

Dawn - Bodecia
http://www.ebay.com/sch/dawncee333/m.html
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 Natural pearl collector & seller. And all round pearl lover.

 

[Caitlin]

Thank you, Dawn, for sharing all that data! That's what those photos are - an education.

I think you once may have thought I knew more about natural pearls than you, but I would now like to publicly say to you that your knowledge and even drive for knowledge about pearls, surpasses my own, starting with your candling experiments. Good job.

Would you mind putting up the link to that thread, so we don't all have to go find it?

BTW, I love that crazy ring with the blip on the side of the pearl. I am glad you still have it.

 

[CharmedOne]

Dawn, Thank you so much and you are not hogging the thread at all Really good information and photos. I took a ton of photos but they were pretty blurry so I will try again tonight with a tripod. I will have to see your other thread to look at photos of the rings you just candled, they are very pretty pearls.

 

[Bodecia]

Hi Caitlin,

Was just copying the Link after typing back to you and accidentally reloaded the page. Ugg, lost all I had typed. I hate that.

Thank you very much for your comments. Very generous of you. As you know I have handle many, many naturals by now and that does help me a lot. Helps when looking at photos too but of of course mistakes can be made and then I just resell as cultured whatevers.

Today I half watched the cricket and took candling photographs non-stop. I have been putting each pearl in its own folder marked with a name that indicates easily to me which pearl it is or item of jewellery. Previously I thought I would remember which was which but a lot of them I was mixing up which meant I had to start again. So this time I am doing it properly. I hope.

I love that wacky pearl with the Blip or Blemish too. You and I have always tended to like the unusual naturals. Rounds are beautiful and sell for more but wacky ones are so interesting, warts and all. I know Dave agrees with us.

I will add the Candling URL along with my name. I think that is what you mean. Let me know if not.

Thank you CharmedOne - wait on buying a microscope for a couple of days or so until I put up photos of the same pearl taken with different microscopes and give a better run down on each microscope. The one I have recommended is great and so easy to use BUT it does tend to alter colours and that might bother some people.

Dawn - Bodecia
http://www.ebay.com/sch/dawncee333/m.html
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 Natural pearl collector & seller. And all round pearl lover.

 

[Caitlin]

It's the Dawn's Pearls thread we need the link to.

Hugs to you too. 'Perseverance furthers' has always been my favorite motto and you have done that in spades.

You sharing your naturals with the public so much lately, has been very exciting to see. I should say you have been showing them to me for years, thus increasing my experience with naturals, but have mostly refrained from being public here, until you were really confidant in your expertise, which is why I am taking every opportunity to let people know I have confidence in your expertise and hope to see you benefit from your long (and expensive, when you didn't get naturals!) apprenticeship. We have both made some spectacular mistakes, but those are the real learning experiences! lol.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Each microscope tends to alter the colour of pearls in different ways although that doesn't make much sense as I am not using the light from them. They must have different types of lenses which are altering colours. I don't think that alters what we can see inside the pearls but would really like to hear from Dave on that.

I'd be inclined to think color shift under different wavelengths is a good thing. We are trying to capture light passing through, not reflecting back. If we were doing SEMs or similar views, we'd need calibrated lighting for the purpose, but were not. We're looking for beads, inclusions or contrasts. Many lab tests require stains so things can become more visible, so with that I'd encourage the use of different lighting. It's all data that is useful.

My hands are full at the moment with other tasks, but I'll give you a report on some of your latest views shortly.

 

[CharmedOne]

This is the pearl that has a closed back so it was hard to candle. This is the best I could do.

 

[CharmedOne]

More views

 

[CharmedOne]

Last couple