GIA Alumni Pearl Tour - Paspaley Pearls

[Valeria101]

Those last pictures are from their specials. A lot of them are the kind of pearls the average person wouldn't see in a lifetime.

... and if someone did see them, would never forget! Speaing of those pebbly silver baroque pearls for earrings.

Just noticed your comment about the keshi and CIBJO: how would those differ from the definition ? Pretty awesome handful you've go there!

 

[GemGeek]

If I remember correctly, CIBJO says Keshi can only come from Japanese Akoyas. Or just Akoyas, more likely. Some people say that white pearls are boring, but I think they would change their minds if they could see those baroques!

 

[jshepherd]

No, not only Japanese akoya, but only marine mollusks.

 

[GemGeek]

I don't suppose any Chinese were allowed to give input to CIBJO.

 

[drea]

Blaire,
your pictures were great to see.. now those are some pearls certainly worth adding to your collection!! The one large pearl you have in your hand is incredible.. wonder how big that was? Thanks for sharing all of your beautiful pictures.. love the commentary too!!! I can well imagine how much fun you all had on that trip!

Drea

 

[knotty panda]

If I remember correctly, CIBJO says Keshi can only come from Japanese Akoyas.

Ok, you guys. Translate for the pearl-impaired, please. Am I understanding this conversation correctly?

The CIBJO says keisis come from marine mollusks. However, that is incorrect and they also come from freshwater. Correct?

Which brings me to a question, how can one tell the difference between a saltwater and a freshwater keishi? I thought I read somewhere that saltwater keishis are flat, rose petalish and freshwater are bullet/rice shaped.

Thanks!

 

[GemGeek]

Blaire,
your pictures were great to see.. now those are some pearls certainly worth adding to your collection!! The one large pearl you have in your hand is incredible.. wonder how big that was? Thanks for sharing all of your beautiful pictures.. love the commentary too!!! I can well imagine how much fun you all had on that trip!

Drea

Thanks Drea. It's the same pearl from Jeremy's post. It's 24mm and it's caled The Paspaley Pearl. Perfect in every way! It was amazing that they let us handle it.

Cheers,
Blaire

 

[GemGeek]

Ok, you guys. Translate for the pearl-impaired, please. Am I understanding this conversation correctly?

The CIBJO says keisis come from marine mollusks. However, that is incorrect and they also come from freshwater. Correct?

Which brings me to a question, how can one tell the difference between a saltwater and a freshwater keishi? I thought I read somewhere that saltwater keishis are flat, rose petalish and freshwater are bullet/rice shaped.

Thanks!

Silly CIBJO. Keshi pearls come from mollusks. Period. (My opinion) I don't think there were any representatives from the Chinese market on the CIBJO committee.

The Chinese "keshi petal pearls" are now mostly second-growth pearls grown in the empty pockets from the first freshwater graft. Originally they formed when a bead was expelled. They are shaped like a corn flake or petal because the pocket collapses.

Keshis that happen otherwise, are just happy accidents of the culturing process and can happen in either a marine or freshwater mollusk. They are usually tiny and baroque in akoyas, but can be very large in South Sea or Tahitian pearls. The one thing they all have in common is solid nacre.

To be certain of origin, you would probably need to have them tested. Does that help? I hate to be controversial about keshis, but I can't see how such a huge market could be ignored. The petal type are growing exponentially in popularity.

Cheers,
Blaire

 

[knotty panda]

It does help, really. Thanks!

 

[drea]

Thanks Drea. It's the same pearl from Jeremy's post. It's 24mm and it's caled The Paspaley Pearl. Perfect in every way! It was amazing that they let us handle it.

Cheers,
Blaire

It seems as if the pearl farms were very lenient with the people on the tour as far as taking pictures goes.. For some reason I thought that they would have been more strict in regards to their operations. Kinda nice that you were able to document so much, as there are so many wonderful pictures. How many people ended up going on the tour with you?? Was it mostly people in the business?

 

[GemGeek]

It seems as if the pearl farms were very lenient with the people on the tour as far as taking pictures goes.. For some reason I thought that they would have been more strict in regards to their operations. Kinda nice that you were able to document so much, as there are so many wonderful pictures. How many people ended up going on the tour with you?? Was it mostly people in the business?

They were very generous, I agree. I still can't get over how lucky we were to get in the special pearl room at Paspaley and be allowed to handle and photograph everything.

The things they didn't want shared were the proprietary things, such as their techniques. Paspaley, Wan & Eyris Blue spent a lot of time, effort and money to get where they are, so I can understand that they woudn't want to hand out that information to the general public.

There were 27 people including Akira Hyatt, our GIA guide on the tour. There were four of us that deal predominantly in pearls. A few people were not in the business, but had taken classes at GIA in the past. Several were jewelry store owners, or worked for jewelers. And there was a large core group that had taken several of the GIA alumni tours and would have gone regardless of the tour destination.

It was the trip of a lifetime. Now I have to get used to being ordinary me -- gone is the VIP treatment!

But I have photos!
Blaire

 

[drea]

They were very generous, I agree. I still can't get over how lucky we were to get in the special pearl room at Paspaley and be allowed to handle and photograph everything.

The things they didn't want shared were the proprietary things, such as their techniques. Paspaley, Wan & Eyris Blue spent a lot of time, effort and money to get where they are, so I can understand that they woudn't want to hand out that information to the general public.

There were 27 people including Akira Hyatt, our GIA guide on the tour. There were four of us that deal predominantly in pearls. A few people were not in the business, but had taken classes at GIA in the past. Several were jewelry store owners, or worked for jewelers. And there was a large core group that had taken several of the GIA alumni tours and would have gone regardless of the tour destination.

It was the trip of a lifetime. Now I have to get used to being ordinary me -- gone is the VIP treatment!

But I have photos!
Blaire

I'm still quite surprised though in all that you were able to do.. they really did give you all the VIP treatment didn't they?!! Private planes and all!! I'm envious!! But really from looking at your pictures, it doesn't seem like there was much you weren't able to see. A trip of a life time for sure. With there being so much interest in the tour, perhaps they'll offer it again, and maybe even include Autore the next time!

I'm kicking myself for not making the time to go on the trip.. although thanks to you, I really don't feel so left out now! What a great number of people to travel with, I didn't realize that it was such a large group. What a blast!! Perhaps I'll see you on the next trip!!

 

[GemGeek]

Tell me about Autore!

 

[drea]

Tell me about Autore!

Now those are some pearls I would die to get my hands on...!! One day..! Have you seen the video that was up on Modern Jeweler on Autore? You have to watch it if you haven't seen it already - pretty incredible.

 

[GemGeek]

You can see me pop out a South Sea Pearl -- all of eight seconds...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q36hnmwRLQg

And here is our water landing in Kuri Bay, Australia...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzm-Rj0jaXM

 

[Cathybear]

I'm DROOLING! These are all absolutely DELICIOUS! I live in Darwin, now I've seen inside Paspaley's through your photo's! Thank you!!
Cathy

 

[GemGeek]

I'm DROOLING! These are all absolutely DELICIOUS! I live in Darwin, now I've seen inside Paspaley's through your photo's! Thank you!!
Cathy

You live in Darwin? How terrific! Except maybe for swimming...

 

[Cathybear]

If you don't mind crocs and stingers, swimmings okay lol. Never mind our sea is a gorgeous turquoise colour, se we can LOOK at it

 

[GemGeek]

Things are slow today, so I thought I'd post more Paspaley pearls from their specials collection - most of which were museum-worthy!

I remember this one being bigger than a walnut. I'd have liked to see the monster oyster that bred this puppy...

The colors swimming on the surface of this oval could hynotize...

And here is the perfect honking-big near-round pearl...

Just a few pearls to brighten your day!

 

[pattye]

Thanks much, Blaire,

Looking at those photos, I now feel downright cheerful!!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time