More Tahitian pearl nacre fun!

[jshepherd]

Hisano sliced a few more Tahitian pearls this morning and I was glancing over her shoulder and decided I had to take a few more photos.

I think it's really interesting to see the different shapes that can come from a round bead. The pearl on the right in the first shot is expecially interesting. I am not sure what happened at that squared off section.

 

[JerseyPearl]

Wow that is very different! Thanks for sharing...the nacre seem particularly thick on that one.

 

[KAC]

very cool - and nice THICK nacre too

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I notice the nacre is thick even where the rings are.

 

[jshepherd]

The nacre is really thick on all of them. It's the rule not the exception with these pearls from Mangareva - the Rikiteas. They are perfect for Hisano too. If the nacre were 0.8, there is no way she could bore them out and set stones and set them in jewelry.

The top right is the most interesting to me. You can see the the square-ish shape in the nacre is the predecessor of the final shape, but it's missing the rings. It makes one wonder what really happens inside that pearl sac ....

 

[JerseyPearl]

It makes one wonder what really happens inside that pearl sac ....

What happens in nature, stays in nature....

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

To gain a 3D perspective, more than one axis need to be examined.

A 2D view of a cylinder can appear as a circle or a square, depending on which axis is viewed.

 

[ckrickett]

that is so cool!!

 

[BWeaves]

" The pearl on the right in the first shot is expecially interesting. I am not sure what happened at that squared off section."

Sponge Bob Square Pants?

Very cool photos. Thank you for sharing.

 

[CathyKeshi]

That's all fascinating ... Thanks!

 

[pattye]

This is so, so interesting! Thanks, Jeremy, for taking pics!

 

[GemGeek]

What happens in nature, stays in nature....

Unless you are Hisano with your trusty band saw! Great thread, photos and posts!

 

[Cees]

nice info, Hisano and Jeremy. Hope you you both don't become too scientific because all your Tahitian pearls might end up like these and Jeremy wants to climb into a pearl sac

 

[amti]

I've always loved science so its no wonder I find this especially interesting. How thick would you say the nacre is on these pearls, Jeremy? Why is there an air bubble(?) above the bead? Are the Rikiteas harvested longer than other Tahitians, or is there magic in their waters? They always have such vivid colors.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

amti, I recall reading some posts about why the pearls from Rikitea/Mangareva are so lustrous and colorful; see:


https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9676&page=3&p=135961&viewfull=1#post135961

https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7302&p=102401&viewfull=1#post102401

https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7302&p=102407&viewfull=1#post102407

 

[amti]

Thank you so much Pearl Dreams! I spent over an hour reading up and clicking on links and admiring Josh's amazing photography! Yes, I ended up half way around the world and in the ocean with sharks, vortexes, and surfers flying overhead! What a great forum!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Here's an article that makes one wish to just pack one's bags and go for a visit:

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-83381240/

 

[pattye]

Fascinating article, Pearl Dreams! Thanks!! Seems like the trip would be worth every penny!

 

[JerseyPearl]

Fascinating article, Pearl Dreams! Thanks!! Seems like the trip would be worth every penny!

That sounds like a fantastic trip to take.

 

[Katbran]

Such beautiful pearls Jeremy ... gorgeous colour and lustre... it's so interesting to see them halved like that.. thanks for the photos !