Smashing pearls - in the interests of science

[Amanda]

Following discussion on the "pinked or punked" thread, Isaac (my son) and I indulged in some destruction in the name of science. I chose the least attractive of two different types of FWP, and here are photos of before and after the smashing:

1. This is a very large baroque freshwater pearl - they are about 14 mm on the longer side:

This is the picture of before:



It turned out to have a really quite small bead in the middle, and very thick nacre indeed around the bead:


.


2. This second pearl is smaller - about 6 mm across. And has a flat bottom:


.


It was hollow in the centre - no bead, no nothing:

 

[pearlescence]

That rosebud pearl being hollow is really unexpected.
Conversely I was just trying to enlarge the drill hole on a tahitian to thread it on some silver snake chain and it has already gone through two 1mm bits. I think there is a diamond in there!

 

[pattye]

Amanda,

Good work! Please describe how easy or difficult it was to smash these. Is that a smaller pearl nucleus in the 14mm pearl?

Very surprised the rosebud or druzy pearl is hollow, as was Wendy. I feel a smashing event coming on~

 

[KAC]

very cool, thanks for posting those pics.

 

[Caitlin]

Pearl Smashers! Yet another pearl occupation- and phrase!

 

[Amanda]

I am pretty sure that the bead inside the large baroque pearl was a small freshwater pearl. Very hard to be sure, but that's certainly what it looked like.

The small rosebud pearl was most definitely hollow - I smashed them inside a small freezer bag, so nothing could skid off and be lost. Then emptied the bag carefully on to the blue tray the bits are on the photo.

The small one was very easy to break - two smacks of the hammer by Isaac, and it was in bits, and I had to restrain him sharpish before he reduced it to pearly dust.

The large baroque pearl was a much tougher nut to crack. Isaac had about 10 good goes with the hammer, and nothing much had happened. I gave it 4 whacks, increasingly hard, and it split a bit, and then another one to open it up.

 

[Amrita]

Thanks for the pics Amanda - how fascinating.

 

[Adeline Leigh]

Now this is fun Wonder what the insides of tahitians (ouch) look like now?

 

[Amanda]

Your curiosity will have to be satisfied by someone other than me, I think. I'm not taking a hammer to one (or letting Isaac do it, either).

 

[morphius]

Now this is fun Wonder what the insides of tahitians (ouch) look like now?

I'll do it. Will post pics of the results it a little bit.

 

[KarinK]

Thank you all for the sacrifices you make in the name of science! Or curiosity

- Karin

 

[Amrita]

Thanks for that, Morphius!

 

[morphius]

sorry got a little distracted yesterday...but DID 'smash' a Tahitian and will post pics shortly (still have to take them).

 

[Joyful Grow]

Oh. big pearl is always with nucleus, As I know almost every cultured seawater pearl with them. Some bigger freshwater pearl have them, but most freshwater pearl have no nucleus.

 

[Mikeyy]

Pearl Smashers! Yet another pearl occupation- and phrase!

How about "Smashed Pearlers" Caitlin. Not really a phrase, more of a condition.

 

[Marianne]

Ok, that was a coffee snorter, Thanks Mikeyy

 

[Amrita]

Thanks for the laugh, Mikeyy!

 

[Caitlin]

Ja Ja Ja!!!! We have to add that one, too!