Good morning! Is this special?

[Diver]

Good morning. First time poster here. Recently, I went abalone diving for the first time. (I'm totally hooked on the hobby and the meat is delicious) As I cleaned and prepped my catch for the evening meal, something glinted at me from within the innards of the 8.5" red abalone. (It was harvested from Northern California, U.S.A) My heart skipped a beat as I filtered through the mess that is the inside of an abalone, and I pulled out the pictured pearl. I showed it to a veteran diver and he said that he had "seen a lot of abalone pearls, but I've never seen that!" I am looking for opinions from anyone willing to give them and thinking of getting a pendant made. So....Is this special?

Size
21mm x 13.5mm x 8mm

weight
2-3g(my kitchen scale shows my experience level here)

Thank you.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

It certainly looks special to me!
What are the dimensions? Can you post a photo of the other side of it?

 

[Diver]

Thanks for the reply. Here is the other side, not as brilliant, but still beautiful. The surface is smooth except the tip(narrow end is a little sharp, and there is a black line along the large rounded edge.

 

[Diver]

I added the dimensions and weight to the original post.

 

[Diver]

Thank you for the info and resources.

 

[battah]

That's beautiful! I would certainly say it's special, since you found it yourself

 

[Pearl Dreams]

When you eventually have it set, would you please come back and post photos?

 

[pattye]

Diver, a terrific prize, congratulations! Agree, perfect for a pendant!

 

[Diver]

I like those settings for a woman's pendant, but I would prefer something more masculine for myself. I will post pics when I get it set.

 

[battah]

Hmm for a guy, maybe set it in a silver bezel (sideways rather than pointing up), kind of a bead style that you can wear on a leather bracelet?

 

[MSC]

A gorgeous pearl! And the underside is really interesting looking, it almost seems translucent. I'd love to see a closer view of that...

It would make a stunning pendant, to be sure!

 

[Diver]

I'm thinking something with kracken tentacles grasping the pearl.

 

[CathyKeshi]

What a fabulous find this is, Diver! And I think kraken tentacles would be awesome

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Kraken tentacles sound perfect!!

 

[battah]

That sounds awesome!

 

[KAC]

the shape and surface quality are excellent for an Abalone pearl. I think you've got a great find there, and worth a few bucks too!

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

So....Is this special? 21mm x 13.5mm x 8mm

Pearls from abalone are common. Most are irregular shapes from mantle perforations. The greater part of desirable pieces are the classic horn shape and loose pearls. Your pearl being a loose type is extraordinary in size and shape. Teardrop shapes in any pearl almost always adds value. This piece presents with distinctive abalone colors, iridescence and luster. Likewise, varied color and surfaces on opposite sides is typical and readily identifiable as abalone origin.

Red Abalone (Haliotis rufescens) is the largest of the abalone species ranging from British Columbia to Baja, California, hence they'll generally produce the largest pearls.

Any pearl, no less natural is considered big at 1cm, but 2.1cm... is special.

I'm glad you've decided to keep it.

 

[kelluvpearls]

Nice discovery!

 

[dkan 168]

I do not know much about abalone pearls, however, it looks lovely to me, great find!

DK

 

[SunSeeker]

How interesting! And a great story too!