Nautilus pearl

[Caitlin]

My favorite reality show.

 

[DrTKStern]

Nautilus Pearl on display

Nautilus Pearl on display

Dear All,

As many of you know, Mr. David Porter will be speaking about Nautilus pearls at the AGA conference on Feb.3 at 7pm, which for pearl lovers will be a highlight of the 2010 Tucson Gem Show.

Mr. Carlos Chanu has graciously agreed to display my GIA cert Nautilus pearl at his booth. PCD Pearls, GJX Show, Booth #810, which is very near the entrance. In addition, Mr. Chanu will exhibit some examples of T. Stern natural pearls, both loose and in jewelry, that may be of interest to you. If you wish a private look, contact my son, Tom M. Stern, VP of Sales and Acquisitions, at 510-331-7746.

And for a treat, view the "Celestial Moonbeam" ring by Paula Crevoshay at booth 3514 Designer Ballroom, AGTA, Tucson Convention Center. A photo is on #497 on the Tom Stern's Natural Pearls thread on Pearl Guide.

Regards to all,
Tom

 

[SteveM]

As many of you know, Mr. David Porter will be speaking about Nautilus pearls at the AGA conference on Feb.3 at 7pm, which for pearl lovers will be a highlight of the 2010 Tucson Gem Show.

Mr. Carlos Chanu has graciously agreed to display my GIA cert Nautilus pearl at his booth. PCD Pearls, GJX Show, Booth #810, which is very near the entrance.

And for a treat, view the "Celestial Moonbeam" ring

And in keeping with the spirit of this thread, I will be bringing my confirmed but yet uncertified Nautilus pearl and others similar. As a non-trade member I cannot enter GJX, but propose to find a corner table somewhere following Strack and prior to Jeremy's Pearl Walk.

As a further enticement, I will bring Ben Bergman's 'Hiti Tangata' natural Poe Pipi gold/diamond/sapphire ring?

(Tongue firmly in cheek, but the invitation stands!)

 

[DrTKStern]

Strack

Strack

And in keeping with the spirit of this thread, I will be bringing my confirmed but yet uncertified Nautilus pearl and others similar. As a non-trade member I cannot enter GJX, but propose to find a corner table somewhere following Strack and prior to Jeremy's Pearl Walk.

As a further enticement, I will bring Ben Bergman's 'Hiti Tangata' natural Poe Pipi gold/diamond/sapphire ring?

(Tongue firmly in cheek, but the invitation stands!)

Hi,

What time and where is Professor Strack's talk? She is putting some of T.Stern rare pearls into her new edition, due out soon, or possibly by now.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[SteveM]

Shell and TWO blisters!

Shell and TWO blisters!

Shell and blister turns out to be shell and TWO blisters! One clearly non-nacreous?the other?

Full shell shot confirms that it is a mature Nautilus, as the aperture of the body chamber is narrowing in width.

As the mollusk lives quite a number of years after reaching maturity, the outside of the previous whorl essentially becomes an interior wall, perhaps explaining the coloration/composition of that blister.

Assuming it is to some degree nacreous, finding a blister hasn't been very helpful, has it?

Nautilus continues to guard its mysteries.


(Just saw Tom's last post. Strack's lecture is 9am on Thursday the 4th at the convention center.)

 

[Caitlin]

Steve
I am sure you can get in as a guest of a buyer. That's where Kojima, Cortez, and the Rankins- Have you seen their stuff, yet?

 

[DrTKStern]

Clarification?

Clarification?

Shell and blister turns out to be shell and TWO blisters! One clearly non-nacreous?the other?

Full shell shot confirms that it is a mature Nautilus, as the aperture of the body chamber is narrowing in width.

As the mollusk lives quite a number of years after reaching maturity, the outside of the previous whorl essentially becomes an interior wall, perhaps explaining the coloration/composition of that blister.

Assuming it is to some degree nacreous, finding a blister hasn't been very helpful, has it?

Nautilus continues to guard its mysteries.


(Just saw Tom's last post. Strack's lecture is 9am on Thursday the 4th at the convention center.)

Steve,

The first question is whether a Nautilus produces any kind of pearl. Based on the report, do we now know that a Nautilus blister pearl has been found? Its composition is a secondary question, in my mind. So, please clarify.

I mean...is there still hope for me in the race? I continue to look for a nice Nautilus on the end of a stalk attached to a shell.

Best,
Tom

 

[SteveM]

The first question is whether a Nautilus produces any kind of pearl. Based on the report, do we now know that a Nautilus blister pearl has been found? Its composition is a secondary question, in my mind. So, please clarify.

I mean...is there still hope for me in the race? I continue to look for a nice Nautilus on the end of a stalk attached to a shell.

That Nautilus produces pearls has never been in doubt, given its calcareous shell.

The nacreous/non-nacreous consideration is indeed the core issue and the cause for scientific peer rejection of the certification. We must understand the animal. When we manage to get the attention of the scientific community perhaps an answer will be forthcoming.

It seems as though this latest discovery is of an attached blister pearl, albeit not what we thought we might see. Will be of great interest to have it analyzed.

 

[SteveM]

Steve
I am sure you can get in as a guest of a buyer. That's where Kojima, Cortez, and the Rankins- Have you seen their stuff, yet?

I'm a great admirer of all. Will see what works out!

 

[DrTKStern]

What is in doubt

What is in doubt

That Nautilus produces pearls has never been in doubt, given its calcareous shell.

Steve,

To the top dogs at several highly respected labs, the mere existence of Nautilus pearls remains unproven, regardless of characteristics.

Best to all,
Tom

 

[SteveM]

To the top dogs at several highly respected labs, the mere existence of Nautilus pearls remains unproven, regardless of characteristics.

I have communicated with them and have reported their responses here. They do not deny Nautilus pearls in the slightest, they simply find it impossible to certify them as such and are very dubious about attempts to do so without an objective scientific means.

That quest is what this thread became, about half way through.

 

[DrTKStern]

Expert opinion

Expert opinion

I have communicated with them and have reported their responses here. They do not deny Nautilus pearls in the slightest, they simply find it impossible to certify them as such and are very dubious about attempts to do so without an objective scientific means.

That quest is what this thread became, about half way through.

Steve,

When I talked with them face to face, I certainly came away with the impression they do not believe such pearls exist, not just that they have reluctance to cert. So glad to learn they are less closed-minded than they seemed to be. My guess is that they sense they had taken an absurd position and are working to adjust it to seem more reasonable in case someone can find one attached to a shell. Instead of mind reading on these experts, I'll try to get five more guys out hunting starting today, for the shell that can put all objections to certification to rest.

As for nacre/non-nacre...I'm reminded of some lovely Atrina vexillium black pearls I have that have a mixture of both characters, depending on exactly where in the shell it begins...so that some are more nacreous, some less.

Regards,
Tom

 

[GemGeek]

My guess is that they sense they had taken an absurd position and are working to adjust it to seem more reasonable in case someone can find one attached to a shell.

A wise assumption.

 

[Caitlin]

I just can't finish a day without checking this thread. Thanks for delivering!

I think you two geniuses will corner this and contribute to a corner of malacology, as well as place extraordinary beauty into its proper context.

Your lesson is, "Expand Consciousness and Embrace All Possible Pearls from all Mollusks". Maybe the motto is, "All Wild Mollusks Make Natural Pearls, & They Are Rare." "Those Who Find them Are Lucky Beyond Belief"

 

[SteveM]

My guess is that they sense they had taken an absurd position and are working to adjust it to seem more reasonable in case someone can find one attached to a shell.

As for nacre/non-nacre...I'm reminded of some lovely Atrina vexillium black pearls I have that have a mixture of both characters, depending on exactly where in the shell it begins...so that some are more nacreous, some less.

It was Dr. Hainschweig of GemLab, also speaking at AGA and whom I hope to meet, that instigated the idea of hunting for a blister pearl. We can take none of the credit! To reiterate my point, all biological organisms produce concretions/pearls of some sort, so their existence is not in question.

The Nautilus blister pearl is already found, it only remains to be seen what hypothesis it will eventually support.

Atrina vexillium: Good. Earlier in this thread I posted images of a Pinna Nobilis shell, also from the Pinnidae (pen shell) family, precisely as an example of dual biominerality. ID is compartively easy on those!

 

[SteveM]

I just can't finish a day without checking this thread.

Hope you're still up?

 

[SteveM]

Your lesson is, "Expand Consciousness and Embrace All Possible Pearls from all Mollusks". Maybe the motto is, "All Wild Mollusks Make Natural Pearls, & They Are Rare." "Those Who Find them Are Lucky Beyond Belief"

AND THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!

I mentioned some new finds a few posts back. Arrived today. Talk about planets, these are planet sized! On the left, a perfect button 17.5mm x 14mm x 17.5mm, 32.5 carats. Pearl on the right is a perfect button 13.8mm x 12.4mm x 13.8mm, 16.9 carats.

Pearls were found on remote islands in and around the Flores Sea, between 20 and 50 years ago. Word getting out last Fall is just reaching some of these areas. My feeling is that the young, upwardly mobile global generation doesn't distinguish grandpa's pearls from his other mustika objects, and is pleasantly surprised when someone offers money for them.

These pearls have been through one of the world's toughest selection processes, bridging generations. Clearly the more unique and beautiful?and cosmic?specimens have been treasured the most, and protected as heirlooms against all risk of loss.

The question remains, is this the true appearance of a Nautilus pearl? Certainly I believe that these represent the top Nautilus level, where ID has become relatively easy for me?as with First Growth Bordeaux. There is also a plethora of offerings that are whitish lumps (Blaire's words!) that could originate in literally any mollusk, yet may well be Nautilus. Even if proven to be Nautilus via some yet-to-be-determined process, I would regard them as worthless.

Tom said it first?the swirl is the key. I'm trying to imagine such an aragonite deposition pattern in a sedentary mollusk such as Tridacna, cemented to the reef for its duration?and can't.

 

[DrTKStern]

Societe Des Perles Fines

Societe Des Perles Fines

It was Dr. Hainschweig of GemLab, also speaking at AGA and whom I hope to meet, that instigated the idea of hunting for a blister pearl. We can take none of the credit!

Steve,

Tom Hainschweig at GemLab in hereby invited to dinner when the Discoverer's Trophy gets awarded, along with Ken Scarratt.

As some of you know, Jim Grahl in Southern California is about to launch the Societe des Perles Fines, which might be a nice venue for trophy time...perhaps in Las Vegas at the Gem Show. More information about Societe des Perles Fines will be put on the web as soon as Jim and Chase Reif finish their website. One of SPF's goals will be to promote a renaissance of appreciation and understanding of natural pearls.

Tom

 

[GemGeek]

Is this the Grahl that designed the carousel egg? Dona Dirlam told me that I had to see it, so I made a special trip to GIA Carlsbad while it was on display. It should be in the Smithsonian. On a workmanship level it's incredible, beautiful indeed, but it's also endearing and very very clever.

 

[GemGeek]

Steve, I hope you can afford to keep those lovely monsters. You know they might become an incredible investment once the public learns about nautilus pearls.