Found a small purple hue pearl in an oyster (value?)

[Jelliott69]

I found a purple colored pearl while shucking and eating oysters today. Is there any value at all?

 

[Caitlin]

No cash value, but always a great show and tell. Who else do you know that ever found a pearl in an oyster?

Get a little display box for it. It really is a pretty little thing.

Dave may come along and say why the color is purple. Usually the pearls from quahog clams run to the purple, so purple oyster pearls are new to me becuse oyster pearls are usually white.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Most species can produce purple pearls. Some may appear with brown hues. Apart from pearl oysters, there is a high incidence of purple pearls in clams. Given the sheer volume of reports to P-G in the past few years, quahog pearls are likely more common than many of us once thought. Purple pearls from virginia or japanese oysters are rare, but not uncommon.

The purple occurs normally around parts of the shell, usually where the greatest strength is needed in the least amount of space, very often around the edges where the siphons extended from the shell, or near the attachments.

Am I right assuming this was found while still raw?

It has low value as it is, but may make a terrific piece with a little creativity.

Thank you for posting it.