Natural Pearl, wild caught, Delaware Bay

[Gail]

Have a "natural pearl" still embedded in the oyster shell. Oyster was harvested in the Delaware Bay. Am curious to know what the worth could be. Pictures will be attached. Would like to hear any responses.

Thank you.

Gail

 

[Caitlin]

Just curious, what would you pay for it? It makes for a great story though!

 

[Sea Urchin]

Unfortunately, I don't think it has much financial value. However, an unusual keepsake and the story that goes along with it does have another kind of value.

 

[pattye]

Welcome Gail, That is interesting and unusual! What a fun find. Please leave it attached to the shell and keep as a souvenir. Probably not a lot of value.

 

[GemGeek]

Maybe this is your good luck charm for the future!

 

[Gail]

So, all of you are telling me this is of no value? Is there no one that can tell me or refer me to someone that may know a bit more knowledge? If there is, please refer me to someone. Thank you.

 

[Gail]

Thank you. Just may be that.

 

[GemGeek]

Unfortunately, because there isn't much attractiveness to the blister pearl, it is more of a natural history specimen or curiosity. The value would increase if it was prettier, especially if it was a free pearl that wasn't attached to the shell. Sadly, rarity does not always equate to high value.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

So, all of you are telling me this is of no value? Is there no one that can tell me or refer me to someone that may know a bit more knowledge? If there is, please refer me to someone. Thank you.

GemGeek is correct. Non-lustrous blister pearls have no gem value. Even round, loose pearls from edible oysters tend to be highly calcarious (chalky) and are not desirable either.

I see them all the time from several species, but don't bother to collect them unless there's something unusual or significant about them. Even the ones I retain sit in boxes for months or even years until I give them away.

 

[kyratango]

So, all of you are telling me this is of no value? Is there no one that can tell me or refer me to someone that may know a bit more knowledge? If there is, please refer me to someone. Thank you.

A bit more of knowledge? Ô.. Ô I encourage you to read Dave's (Lagoon Island Pearls) to get an idea of his knowledge...

I can add to Caitlin's comment: would you wear it?

And agree will all, it is a lucky find and keeping it so is the best to do

 

[Katbran]

You'd be hard pressed to find people with more knowledge than in this forum. These folks grow pearls and study pearls. Do go to Dave's site and you'll see what I mean. The others are pearl experts . This is a knowledge based forum not a jewellery forum so they know what they are talking about. Sorry you are disappointed but As they have said, while it's not worth anything, its a fun story.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

it is a lucky find

while it's not worth anything, its a fun story.

Yes indeed.

It's a curiosity and I appreciate Gail taking the time to research advice. Even in cases of a loose or lustrous pearls, it's often suggested to retain them as keepsakes. Finding any pearl is an exciting event.

From a scientific standpoint, this blister appears nearly equal to the overall age of the oyster, annexed to the anterior adductor of the left valve (shell). It likely formed while the oyster was in it's juvenile stages. A time when the shells are barely developed and thin. There is a semi-periostracial structure (darker colored area) with overlapping prismatic layers predominated by calcite. Food oysters are nacreous creatures, but they have mere microns of thickness at best. The nucleus is probably not solid, but a mixture of conchiolin and necrotic cells.

Along the dorsal aspect, there is evidence of other parasitic affliction, likely by Polydora (a shell boring annelid). Checking the opposite side of the shell may reveal other holes or calcarious tube-like formations. It happens a lot in nature. Many won't survive the first season, but occasionally a specimen will demonstrate great resilience and grow to mature adulthood.

 

[Caitlin]

The pearl is from a food oyster, not a pearl oyster. Though this forum gets almost monthly finds of this kind of pearl from a food oyster, and everyone wonders how much they are worth, they are worth nothing but the good story you get out of it.

Actually, this is the first wearable one I have seen!

If I found it, I would drill it at the top, and thread a leather tie through it and wear it. It has grown on me since my first comment. It actually has an earthy-toned, kind of fall-toned jewelry look. Or if you were to put a bail on it and medium weight chain. Or find a special stand or display box, if you don't care for earthy jewelry.

I doubt you will ever see such a thing again.

If you sell it, it is worth exactly what the buyer paid for it, because there is zero market for food pearls.

You will never find more qualified people to look at your pearl either. This has been a big, free, service to you and saves you from taking it to a jewelry store for more rejection.

 

[Gail]

I want to thank everyone for their input on this. I appreciate all the info given to me. The story behind the pearl is my husband works on the Delaware Bay oystering. I wanted a couple dozen oysters for oysters rockafeller and he brought them home and shucked them for me. Hence, this was found in one of them. Was caught approx 3-4 years ago. I have it sitting on a shelf with other nautical items that he found while working. Also have a few oysters that are heart shaped as well as old bottles found. Again, thanks to everyone for the information.

Gail

 

[Caitlin]

You are lucky. That was a great find. It is special, being attached to the shell, because it looks much better than most food oyster pearls.