Nautilus Pearls - Issues with Lab identification

[GemGeek]

David Porter, Graduate Gemologist, will be speaking at the Accredited Gemologist's Association conference, Wednesday Februrary 3rd, 2010, in Tucson, Arizona. Subject: Issues with laboratory grading/identification of Nautilus pearls.

Word is that David will be bringing the one and only GIA lab identified Nautilus pompilius pearl owned by our own Dr. Tom Stern.

David will be one of six speakers on varied gemological topics. The AGA conference is always outstanding, so if you will be in the area and have an interest, details will be posted on the AGA website in the near future. www.accreditedgemologists.org Conference registration includes a dinner-dance that brings out the luminaries of the gem world.

 

[SteveM]

Great news! It would be worth the trip just to see that pearl firsthand, hopefully alongside other non-nacreous clam-like pearls that did not pass ID for Nautilus.

However, I trust this doesn't mean that we are now obliged to wait until next February for further substantiation of the certification, or for some version of Ken Scarratt/GIA's revised monograph. That's an eternity these days!

 

[SteveM]

How much has happened over at 'Nautilus Pearl' since the prior posts here!

I have looked at the AGA program for February 03 and it turns out that another program speaker, Thomas Hainschwang (founder of GEMLAB, Liechtenstein) is the scientist that personally provoked me to instigate the currently-underway search for a Nautilus blister. What an occasion it would be to gather together for a discussion on the topic—blister in hand!

 

[GemGeek]

Absolutely! I'm looking forward to it.

 

[CLICLASP]

Can we see this pearl somewhere? I can't find the post with the photo of the nautilus pearl, can someone put a link to?
Thanks

 

[SteveM]

This post, 18 pages into the 'Nautilus Pearl' thread, shows a purported Nautilus blister pearl, although separation from the shell by the finder has unfortunately degraded its scientific value. Ongoing efforts to discover an attached blister—to finally settle doubts regarding the existence and (assuming existence) composition of Nautilus pearls—promise imminent fruition.

Stay tuned!