I found a purple pearl in a clam I was eating-The Quahog Thread

[jshepherd]

Sure! A cherrystone is a Quahog, correct? You can do a search of "Quahog" on this forum and you will find quite a bit of content. Perfect specimens are rare, but a lot of people have discussed them here. I suggest contacting those that have them (and have posted here) and see what sort of information they have been able to uncover regarding value.

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Krensavage

Yes, please post one or more photos. Photos will increase interest a lot.

It does sound like a wonderful pearl. It is so rare to find such a pearl. I hope you consider getting it set in a piece of jewelry, or a tie tack or something, and start a family tradition with it.

It is next to impossible to guess what the market will be on such a rare piece, but if it is as perfect as the first post you put up describes it, you may find a buyer- perhaps even through someone visiting this forum.

Perhaps others who have found cherrystone clam pearls will pick up on your post too -

We had a number of comments on quahog pearls over here last summer. It appears that several people also have quahog pearls they found or inherited, and a few of them commented here, but it was pretty much agreed that there is not exactly a market, or a market value, because they are too rare. The value is whatever someone will pay.

One extraordinary set of 2 very large quahog pearls set in a 150 year old victorian brooch visited the Tucson Gem show last winter and created a huge sensation. The jewelry piece was on a publicity tour to drive up its value before it went to public auction. I believe they had it hyped up to 1/4 million, but I never heard what the actual sale price was...

A single unset cherrystone pearl will never bring anything close to the price for 2 very large quahog pearls in an antique setting, so don't get too excited. Also it could have easily cost 100k to tour the antique piece professionally, in order to drive the price up, so they were obviously gambling that someone would pay top dollar for a well-known quahog pearl! Not bad for the pearl monger who found the (filthy) brooch in a second hand store mixed in with a basket of costume jewelry, for $14!

 

[Richard W. Wise]

Cherry stone is a small quahaug. Didn't expect a California guy to know that. Speaking as a Swamp-Yankee, born and bred in Rhode Island. They are normally purple as is the little spot on one valve that was used to make wampum in pre-Colonial times.

 

[birdsnflight]

Purple pearl

Purple pearl

Hello * Newwbie* here....


I found in a clam about 12 yrs ago ( and still have) a purple pearl while eating clams (cherrystones) it is what I would call a small and is in a kidney shape. Does anyone know of the value of this gem? Thanks for all your help!!


Nancy WHite >-

 

[The Pearl Outlet]

Quahog Pearl

Quahog Pearl

Hi Nancy,

As you've probably already guessed, this is called a quahog pearl. These are rare pearls and you will want to find a dealer that deals with natural pearls to get an accurate value.

To find a dealer, I'd recommend contacting the NW Gem Lab. Their contact information is as follows:

Northwest Gemological laboratory
PO Box 8243
Boise, ID 83707
(208) 362-3938
FAX (208) 362-2889

 

[Angelonia_Anne]

I have several Quahog Pearls also

I have several Quahog Pearls also

My boyfriend has been in business for 25 years producing Clams Casinos from Quahog clams. These clams are sold by Wegmans Food Markets in New York State under the "Dave's Locker" Brand Name. Each clam is opened by hand.

Over this time, he has found several purple quahog pearls while opening millions of these raw clams over the years.

They range in size from a peanut to one the size of a Peanut M&M. Some of them are very dark purple, and some are a light lavender color.

He is now interested in selling them so I am looking for a market for them.

See attached picture to take a look at them!

 

[Angelonia_Anne]

Picture of my Quahog Pearls

Picture of my Quahog Pearls

Here is a picture of several Quahog Pearls I am looking for a market for. They were found by my boyfriend over a 20 year period of opening raw Clams for his business. (The name of his business is "Dave's Locker Clams Casinos". They are sold by Wegmans Food Markets all over New York State.)

 

[The Pearl Outlet]

Quahog Pearls

Quahog Pearls

If you'd be interested, we could have them evaluated and sell them for a small commission.

We have several private collectors that may find an interest in them once
they see them. Feel free to give me a call directly. Toll free 1-866-673-3036 x200.

 

[j7even82]

my un-cooked quahog pearl (pics)

my un-cooked quahog pearl (pics)

here are some pics of my quahog pearl it was not cooked and has a beautiful purple band around it that cant be seen very well in this pic

any help finding the value on this would be great=)

 

[MICHAELCBRADY]

Quahog

Quahog

Posted by Admin for MICHAELCBRADY:

HI:
I JUST REGESTERED WITH THE PEARL-GUIDE AND READ ALL THE INFORMATION ON THE QUAHOG PEARLS.I'AM NOT A COMPUTER PERSON SO I HAVE TRIED TO SEND A PIC. OF MY PEARL TO THE FORUM BUT HAVE FAILED.THE PEARL IS ALMOST A PERFECT 6MM IN DIA.IT WAS MEASURED BY "ALAN GOLASH" AT HIS SHOP IN NEWPORT,R.I. HE TOLD MY WIFE AND I THAT IT WAS THE FINEST HE HAS SEEN AT THAT TIME. IT HAD ALL THE QUALITIES THAT HIS HAS EXCEPT FOR "SIZE".
MAYBE YOU COULD PASS THIS ONTO ONE OF THE PEARL EXPERTS AND THEY COULD PUT THE PIC. INTO THE FORUM. MY FATHER WAS OPENING QUAHOGS AT A PLACE IN WAREHAM,MA. AND WAS EATING THE INSIDES RAW WHEN HE FOUND THE PEARL.
THIS WAS IN THE 1930'S.

 

[Jerry]

Pearl found in a clam

Pearl found in a clam

Hello all, I found a pearl in a clam during dinner at a restaurant (clams oreganata!). It is approximately 10mm in diameter. It is practically round and white. I am not sure what to do with it, and I do not know what it is worth. I live in Northern New Jersey, is there someone I could take it to to have it appraised? Thanks!

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Jerry
Are clams oreganata cooked or raw? Cooked pearls are most often worthless. If it is an uncooked Quahog pearl, there really isn't enought of a market to say what they are worth. I have heard that Antoinette Maitlins is gathering quahog information, but have no idea what she is doing with it.

 

[Jerry]

The "clams oreganata" pearl was most definately cooked. I just thought it was really strange to find a pearl in one! I just wanted to know if it was worth anything at all.

 

[Caitlin]

I doubt it is worth much. One person who had a found quahog pearl put it in a tiny bottle to protect it and kept it for fun. Quahog pearls do not like to be drilled at all, so jewelry made with them needs to embrace the pearl with prongs or something like that.

 

[Texan]

Quahog pearl

Quahog pearl

Jerry,

I don't pretend to know a lot about pearls, but now that you know the name of this (quahog pearl), I suggest you do some googling to find out more. From what I read, you absolutely cannot drill these, as the outer part is much too fragile.

To see some pictures of these, and a bit about their uses in the past, and what some others have done with these in more recent times, you can take a look at one of the posts on this board, here: https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=121

 

[Jerry]

Caitlin & Texan, Thanks so much for your insight and advice. I will keep the pearl as a momento.
Jerry

 

[Alex K.]

I was shoking quahogs from jamestown Rhode island over last summer and i came across a pearl it is white a little off shade and shinny. I know its a pearl and i know it came from a quahog there is an imprent in the shell where it grew around the pearlThe pearl is about a quarter of the size of a dime and it is almost heart shaped and kind of flat on one side i know nothing about it and i was wondering if anyone would know how much it it worth or how much you think it is worth you can email me if you want at buckmaster777b@aol.com with any info or post on the site my name is alex thanx

 

[Valeria101]

I believe this forum is the most active center for quahog info right now.

There is another: Pala International made a point of acquiring a couple of remarcable specimens.

Obviously these pearls are not your usual jewelry staple, so if they mean something, it would be so for someone who is well passed the concern of staples as well...

 

[Caitlin]

That pala site did not woek for me. I can't even search it without joining.

Anyway, please notice the date this thread was started-2005! Since then Antoinette Maitlins has taken some kind of interest in these pearls----though maybe it was just for her book...

Do not drill Quahog pearls, the best setting for them is a cage, though we have a picture of one in a prong style ring... (search the term "Quahog" to get all our results)

Basically, unless they are giant and I mean an inch acrooss, or set in an 19th century brooch, they are worth only what you can get-after you find a buyer...which isn't much in most cases.

The one below sold for $250,000 or so.

 

[Valeria101]

The Pala site did not work for me.

www. Palagems . com

LINK to their Quahogs

It is a very prominent colored stone hub with a definite interest in the unusual.

Second what you say about finding a buyer - they may not be all that many, but again, you only need as many as there are pearls.

I'm hardly an expert, but for size... 15mm is about as big as any and color seems important for these pearls; i.e. they can't be numerous enough for size to be absolutely decisive. The one that started the humbug was 14mm button. If they are symmetrical and have a pleasant color, wouldn't give up that easy. A set covering the color range sounds serious as well. I am seriously impressed with what this forum can possibly unearth in the way of exotic pearls!

Of course, just my twopence.


BTW. wasn't there another thread about quahogs around here? One started by Mr. Shephard... and called 'One in a trillion' or something.



Edited to add: The Quahog thread found It makes a great example of what is desirable for these pearls. Although the obiously exceptional choice there may not be the only. Anyway, I am inclined to look at these pearls as one of the exceptional native American precious materials, and there are very few on that list. Can't see these quahog pearls having any worse fate than red beryl, benitoite, Pala tourmaline...