Natural Pinctada Maximal pearl how much could it be worth ?

[conchas]

Hey
I was lent this pearl and given time to decide
he said it was natural but it doesn't have papers
and as far as I know there are no labs in the Philippines
I showed it to another dealer and said he thinks its natural .

its 12.85mm by 10.40mm

5 of the 6pics through a loupe I held in front of the cam
I couldn't get the cam to focus

I hope you guys could comment

 

[Caitlin]

It certainly coud be, but the only way to be sure is to get a certificate, which enhances the value to its utmost. I think there is a GIA in Bangkok or somewhere near you.

 

[conchas]

Thanks Caitlin

If had its papers and is confirmed to be natural ,
how much do you think it could be sold for ?
so I'd know if its worth sending to a lab

 

[Caitlin]

Why don't you google natural pearls? I know karipearls has some from the Persian Gulf. Augustus collection has some from SE Asia, I believe. They are both retail prices which is more like the insurance value, not the sale value. Unless you sell directly to a consumer, you have to give the middleman his cut.

Try pm'ing Tom Stern. Look at his collection of naturals on this forum. The thread is called, 'Tom Stern's natural pearls'. He sometimes buys on condition, then he will certify the pearl. You might ask him what he thinks. He also has a web site, but look in this forum first.

 

[conchas]

I owe you one!

 

[GemGeek]

Actually, we have had people who were offered natural South Sea pearls that the owner swore was natural, song and dance, in family for years, etc, and when they came back from the lab, they were cultured with a bead inside. So please be careful. Maybe the seller would be willing to split the fee on the laboratory report.

 

[SteveM]

?when they came back from the lab, they were cultured with a bead inside. So please be careful. Maybe the seller would be willing to split the fee on the laboratory report.

Are the labs even certifying Pinctada naturals at this point? After the huge controversy last year involving bushels full of perfect pearls with natural beads, perfect drops and rounds resulting from tissue nucleation and?most insidious of all?symmetrical all-nacre pearls from pearl sacs that spontaneously (but predictably) twinned from cultured sacs, a universal moratorium had been declared.

I've not been looking as closely in recent months. Has the storm passed?

 

[Josh]

My first reaction was "no way" but now that I've gone back and looked at it a couple times, the "baroqueness" of it is pretty intriguing. Conchas I hope you do have it certified. At the very least, take it to your dentist for an x-ray!

 

[R&B]

Hey Conchas,
If it means a lot to you that it's a Natural Pearl. Don't get it tested and just keep believing.

It's impossible to tell from 50,000 pic's let alone six.

Your pearls measurement fit's into the most common size/volume grouping of "hard to off load in the market place group" for a good price.

Keep believing and just enjoy it for the nice pearl it is.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Keep believing and just enjoy it for the nice pearl it is.

I couldn't agree more. If this were a strand or otherwise uniquely fashioned piece, it might be worth while, but unless it's extraordinarily rare, certification of a single pearl is not viable and remains subjective. Even certified, it's origin and rightful ownership can still be questioned. This why provenance is so important. Witnesses, species, time, date and location of harvest are paramount for properly identifying natural pearls. Labs can make mistakes, and they do. Likewise, any spontaneously formed pearl that came from a hatchery or farm cannot honestly be deemed as natural unless it was harvested from wild stocks and meets the criteria for provenance stated above. There are far too many keshi pearls wrongfully being passed off as natural.

At the very least, take it to your dentist for an x-ray!

Which would be my advice as well, after excluding shell bead nucleation by candling the pearl.

 

[conchas]

Thanks guys I really appreciate your comments ,
your comments are like "Pearls of Wisdo....knowledge"(so as not to be so Clich?)

GemGeek , Steve I'd definitely ask about splitting
R&B "Don't get it tested and just keep believing."
that will surely add a another dimension after Luster "Mystic" *ba dum tss*
Dave,Josh I'll have it X-rayed at my dentist , indirectly pearls are good for your teeth *ba dum tss*

 

[SteveM]

I'll have it X-rayed at my dentist?

Been there.

Obviously, if a bead is detected that's the end of the story. But if no bead is detected, conclusions are impossible given the range of beadless culturing scenarios.

 

[conchas]

Steve , I feel ya

Had it X-rayed its the end of the story , saw a 6.35mm ball of "damn"
It was fun while it lasted

 

[pattye]

Aw, Conchas, you're a good sport, thanks for sharing, we all learn.

 

[lisa c]

Hmmmm. I hope that means you Xrayed before you bought. That's a nice thick layer of nacre, isn't it?

Nonetheless, what a SUPER job you did with the photographs! Unbelievably fine, given that you shot through a loupe.

 

[Caitlin]

That is a sad answer to a great story! Thank you for sharing. Thinking you have a natural , but finding out it isn't, is always a let down. But this is really good info for the next person who was told a pearl is natural!!

 

[conchas]

Pat , Lisa

That's a nice thick layer of nacre, isn't it?

ya it looks thick on the xray Ill upload it If I could get clear pics
Caitlin , and will be told its natural with a