Natural Abalone Pearls

[Mister.Hill]

Wow! I love some of the colours and shapes you can create. I only wish I was able to do something similar!

I've been plodding along myself and picking up a bit of a collection, still haven't got the knack of getting great looking photos, but I've attached one for viewing - sorry it's a little dark so you don't get the foll colour effects.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do... now what to do with it.. back to the shed

 

[J Marcus]

I've been promising X-Rays of some of my "nodules" so here's the start of it. This first one is the single nodule that I posted earlier. It turns out that dental X-Rays work very well for this purpose. In fact one can see--especially in the close up--the coencentric layers on this pearl. I've heightened the contrast a bit to show the layers a little better.

-------------------
Marc
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

 

[antz]

my collection of natural abalone pearls

my collection of natural abalone pearls

here is my collection of natural abalone pearls, which have been gathered over many years from the Chatham Islands

 

[claudenancy]

These are wonderful! Can you show more close ups?

 

[J Marcus]

Oh my! Those are beautiful! Did you collect them by diving for the abalones yourself? Thanks for showing them to us.

 

[pattye]

I could not get any work done if I had those--I would just be playing with them all the time, mesmerized by all the magical opalescent colors------

 

[antz]

most of them were collected on fishing boats were large amounts of abalone gut was used for bait.
I have spent a fair bit of time pairing them off into different formations, there would be some great jewellery to be made from these

 

[antz]

here are some more photos of some of the others in my collection, I will be getting a photographer to get some better shots to show there true colours as my camera is unable to do this

 

[antz]

my favourites

my favourites

here are my favourites there weights are
43.9, 32, 15.9, 9, 4.25 carats

 

[antz]

and I cant leave this 1 out 3.8 carats

 

[Miriam Reed]

Oh, wow! You have some beauties there. Are you keeping them in your collection, or are you going to part with some of them?

I could not get any work done if I had those--I would just be playing with them all the time, mesmerized by all the magical opalescent colors------

I know what you mean. I could have so much fun trying to decide what to make with those... the most beautiful, unique, impractical, unsaleable items.

 

[antz]

combined weights and individual weights of others

 

[J Marcus]

Hello--I've neglected this thread for quite a while, but have been getting X-rays and photo's processed to show a series of my finds and possible analysis of some of the anomalies that I have found. I have several ready or in the process and I will start out with one of what I consider my two best.

This first one--a pair of twinned solid abalone pearls is a real beauty. I posted photos of it earlier that I took while it was still in the shell, but now it is in it's final form before I set it and/or sell it. One of it's features is that it attached to the shell right on top of a blister pearl that formed earlier. It was apparently caused by a toredo clam that "weathered out" as a result of other parasites degrading the outside of the shell to the point that it simply fell out. The nacre on this blister pearl is quite thick and I have not filled in or backed this piece so I think that it qualifies as natural. The pearls were quite large and very solid when they detached from the mantle and the internal layering is rather hard to see. However, the subsequent layers of nacre and conchiolin are quite apparent. I have enhanced the contrast and brightness on the X-rays so that the details will show up better.

I'm adding dimensions for this and the following pieces.
Overall size: 42 mm x 21.5 mm
Twinned pearls: 14 mm X 10.8 mm X 5 mm (approx. height)
The height of these pearls is an estimate of the visible portion of the pearls only because a portion of the bottom of the pearls is imbedded in the shell to which they are attached.

 

[J Marcus]

This one is the other of what I consider my two best and it's a true "Berry Blister." It's cut out but it has not been finished out for setting yet. This one is a cluster of six solid pearls that I am assuming came loose from the mantle together and were cemented to the shell with either conchiolin and/or nacre at the same time.

Overall size: 44 mm X 22 mm (unfinished)
Berry Blister size: 14 mm X 10.8 mm X 4.3 mm (approx. height)
The height of these pearls is an estimate of the visible portion only because a portion of the bottom of the pearls are imbedded in shell to which they are attached.

 

[SteveM]

The cluster in #2 has an inlaid jewel effect with nice contrasting colors. A fascinating find?what settings are you considering?

 

[Caitlin]

That's a real nautilus curve in those pearls. That is a golden triangle or something?

 

[pattye]

Marcus,
The xrays and photos are simply amazing! Thanks for taking time to put them up here! Extraordinary and wonderful!

 

[GemGeek]

Marcus, you always manage to bring something new. X-rays, how cool!

 

[pattye]

Don't tell me the dentist took those xrays?!

 

[J Marcus]

Don't tell me the dentist took those xrays?!

Actually--the dental assistant--and myself when she was too busy.