Pinctada Maculata (Pipi) Pearls

[kojimapearl]

Just wanted to add in that I love this thread in it's entirety. I have been to the Cook Islands twice. The first time in (mmmm let me check the passport!) 2003. I arrived with only one contact whom I had not yet met. Her name was Joan, and she was my angel on Rarotonga. She had been in the pearl business for decades and just months before I arrived in the Cook Islands she had sold her very successful business and signed a non compete, so buying pearls from her was out the window. However she was kind enough to introduce me to many of the sweetest hosts and pearlers. She was raised in the Cook Islands and to date I think she may be the most elegant, naturally beautiful woman I have ever met. We spent an afternoon at her villa sipping cool drinks and she introduced me to her personal collection. Ofcourse including some long necklaces of beautiful Pipi pearls. When I saw these tiny treasures, whose colors seemed to hold all the softness of the edges of a south pacific sunset, I was entranced with Pipi pearls. I still have some photos of her collection although they are not in digital form. I will never forget the kindness Joan showed me, nor her glow.
I quickly made local friends on Rarotonga, and soon was staying up late drinking "perk" (coffee) with numerous jolly pearl farmers on Manihiki.
There is nothing in my adventurous life that compares to my landing on Penrhyn. The airplane landed and we wandered over to the "lean-to" of an airport. There were maybe 30 islanders mulling about chatting. Out of no where, without cue, the entire party of villagers who had come out to greet the plane, began to sing. Their voices lifted straight from the core of the earth. There were no instruments, only the soft braiding of a welcome song. It was truly incredible.
This is all to say that there is a very special place in my heart for the Cook Islands and all the wonderful people who treated me so well there. My times there were blessed.
And here is a very humble photo of the Pipi pearls that I collected from said small jars in my time there. My necklace is about 22" long, and the pearls are definetly not perfect or round, but it is the colors that I love.
Thank you for reminding me!

 

[Heidi]

Ah Sarah - Thank you for sharing your story. I could almost visualize being there. The colors in your strand are so soft and luminous I can only imagine how amazing they look in person.

 

[pattye]

Truly the most exquisite colors ever, I was fortunate enough to see Steve and Almudena's pipi's in person--- love your story, Sarah----made me cry. It's beautiful to imagine. Although I will probably never get to the Cook Islands, I do plan to go to visit Douglas and Enrique and others at Sea of Cortez Pearls! And that will be a huge thrill!

 

[kojimapearl]

Pattye, How cool! When are you going? I would love to visit there some day. I keep threatening to go after the Tucson show, but I am always too exhausted. Have a great trip and be sure to take loads of photos! Enjoy

 

[Jan Raymond]

Hi again. I have slightly modified my earlier posting to describe more the ring I designed. I have many black pearls from Tahiti (interesting stories there on the Aranui and racing/sailing through The Society Islands) since buying these little pipis but as I am going to be studying jewellery for the next two years, I hope to produce some interesting pieces. I would like to obtain by hook or by crook more pipis now that a whole new world has opened up finding this site. Perhaps another holiday via Auckland and onto Muri lagoon would be a good start. Hmmmm I need to do some planning. Thanks Sarah for sharing.

 

[boo]

Jan, welocme to the forum and thanks for sharing!

Sarah, your necklace is exquisite and your kind and loving words describing the Cook Islands and their people are just as lovely.

 

[GemGeek]

I loved the story, too. It's amazing how emotionally affecting it is to be sung to close-range. My eyes welled up just hearing about it.

 

[SteveM]

Jan, welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing!

Sarah, your necklace is exquisite and your kind and loving words describing the Cook Islands and their people are just as lovely.

Likewise, having been away from Pearl-Guide in recent weeks it was a double pleasure upon reviewing recent posts to find Jan's and Sarah's commentaries and photos. The Cooks is a magical place, and the pipis offer a singular link.

 

[Nerida]

Sarah - your story takes me back to Fiji - most of the staff in the resorts just wander around singing.. almost always without instruments, and always with the most exquisite harmony. One time I had been out sailing by myself, and as I was coming in right on dusk, the guys who were tidying up the equipment for the day just sang and sang whilst working.. truly magical.
And your pipis are just beautiful..

 

[SteveM]

This pearl surfaced in recent days, found by a Tongarevan diver well-known to the Avarua pearl trade.

It is being called the finest poe pipi discovered in at least 20 years. 8.6mm round, deep gold with greenish overtone. Just one small blemish (where the post goes?)

Even though the provenance was unimpeachable, the pearl was X-Rayed for good measure as for many years this size has been thought no longer attainable.

 

[Caitlin]

That is an incredible natural pearl. Thanks for the photo. Well?

It is blinding in its glory It is so much more intense than cultured golden pearls. the contrast is like 14k to 24k gold.

 

[SteveM]

Well?

Asking myself the same question. This thread, and the natural pearl market in general, has dissolved the value aspect of these relatively unknown pearls. But at under 10mm this one remains under the 'radar' of top collectors, making acquisition painfully conceivable.

 

[GemGeek]

You don't have to own everything.

 

[DrTKStern]

verification

verification

This pearl surfaced in recent days, found by a Tongarevan diver well-known to the Avarua pearl trade.

It is being called the finest poe pipi discovered in at least 20 years. 8.6mm round, deep gold with greenish overtone. Just one small blemish (where the post goes?)

Even though the provenance was unimpeachable, the pearl was X-Rayed for good measure as for many years this size has been thought no longer attainable.

That is a beautiful pearl. Recommendation: SSEF cert to verify it is neither cultured nor dyed.

Best regards,
Tom

 

[Caitlin]

You don't have to own everything.

Heck no! Except for this one!

 

[SteveM]

You don't have to own everything.

The lightening does seem to be striking with frequency of late?is it real or imagined? Another good reason to keep one's interests as focused as possible!

A complication is that the pearl has been named. It is called Hiti Tangata ("the family"). The other members of the family are already here with us.

Certification: This would be done for estate appraisal only, or as with my recent submittals to GIA Carlsbad including Budi's Drop, as a control lot in conjunction with other pearls of less certain provenance.

 

[GemGeek]

Well, if it's family, you must acquire it!

 

[SteveM]

Thanks for the help?(I think).

 

[Caitlin]

Not only family, it's the head of the family and wants to live in a ring such as the one you showed recently. It spoke to me.

 

[SteveM]

Not only family, it's the head of the family and wants to live in a ring such as the one you showed recently. It spoke to me.

THIS is very appealing. I like platinum (or WG) with the gold pearl, which would match the Poe Io Mata Nui necklace. My wife and I would make quite a pair!