squid pearls

[jimmy]

hi i'm new to this but i've been trying to find out any information about a pearl I came across in southeast asia .
it came from a squid and is about the size of a marble and round.
does anyone know if they are common/rare or have any value.
thanks
jim

 

[jshepherd]

The pearl you have is actually not considered a pearl, but a calcareous concretion. Pearl oysters of the family Pteriidae, certain freshwater mussels of the family Unionidae, and Abalone of the family Haliotidae, are the only mollusks capable of producing pearls of nacre. Nacre is the calcium carbonate substance that layers upon the intrusion creating a pearl. These pearls are the most valuable, calcareous concretions are rare, but have little value. They can actually be produced by squid and octopus (which are cephalopods), edible oysters, and scallops.
Although the calcareous concretion you have is not considered extremely valuable, a nice round, large one is rare. It is possible that it may have some value. I really do not know of a precedent to price a piece such as that. You may want to send it to a gem-lab to get a better idea of the quality, and then research similar pieces.

 

[jimmy]

wow thanks very much.
it's nice and that is all i really need to know.
i don't know what i'll do with it but it's nice to know it's rare.
thanks again
jim

 

[CortezPearls]

Sweet Lord! I found one!!! Will post this information next week in our Blog:
www.perlasshop.com/blog

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Sweet Lord! I found one!!!

Diablo rojo?

 

[Marianne]

Ooooooooo Aaaaaaaaaah... waiting!

Marianne

 

[GemGeek]

Douglas, you are such a tease!

 

[SteveM]

Will surmise that Douglas found it while digging into a crisp-fried plateful. Curious to know where and when that calamar was fished, and if it produced anything remotely resembling Jimmy's marble?

We already have pearls from Argonauta, Octopoda and Nautiloidea, now Teuthida. We may be on the verge of a Cephalopodian Royal Flush here at Pearl-Guide.

 

[Marianne]

Thanks Steve, but I should not have been drinking coffee while reading that post. Keyboard nearly got a shower
Marianne

 

[lisa c]

Get Out, Douglas!!! Are you kidding me?

and look what you guys did to poor Marianne! Good catch Marianne, BTW.

 

[Caitlin]

Hola Douglas!
Congrats!!!

It's been just over a year since we visited down there and I am dreaming of fish tacos. Maybe I can hitch a ride when Jeremy and Josh B. come interview you all. (hint, hint) Hugs to all you handsome young men who raise the pearls under such changeable circumstances.

Hi Steve
A cephalopedic Royal Flush! Thank The Pearl Goddess, I was NOT drinking coffee. (I notice both our spellings get redlined. Is yours actually correct?)

 

[SteveM]

A cephalopedic Royal Flush! Thank The Pearl Goddess, I was NOT drinking coffee. (I notice both our spellings get redlined. Is yours actually correct?)

Just looked it up: Cephalopodic.

(Like ours better.)

 

[SteveM]

Cephalopodic.

Alt. Cephalopodous.

(Still like ours better.)

 

[CortezPearls]

Finally...too much work means little time for fun! And fun is always around the corner! Made a write up for my blog on the find..."The Mysterious Calamabe Pearl" (read here: http://www.perlas.com.mx/blog/?p=430)

But, will share some photos here as well...these so called "Squid Pearls" are very interesting, almost mesmerizing to look at... hope you find this info interesting.

For full details...head to my blog!

 

[pattye]

Remarkable! Thank you, Douglas!!

 

[Josh]

Douglas, you have done a masterful job of luring us to your blog. Be there shortly!
Cephalopodian Royal Flush! Thanks for that Steve. However it's spelled, the mere concept is now imprinted on my brain. Love it. My first business venture at age 18 was an enterprise called "Squidart." It was actually inspired by a dream and consisted of making designs on t-shirts with squid that had been dipped in paint. Those cephalopods and I go waaay back.

 

[SteveM]

Cephalopodian Royal Flush! Thanks for that Steve. However it's spelled, the mere concept is now imprinted on my brain.

Now we just have to play our cards right?

These things actually call to mind some of the translucent, glass-like mustika pearl talisman objects I've seen offered in Indonesia.

One thing for sure, we can eliminate the eye of Nautilus as a source for the translucent M. Abominabilis pearls, as Nautilus possesses the only cephalopodous (cephalopodic, cephalopedic, cephalopodian) eye without a lens.

 

[Nora]

Douglas,
As Humphrey Bogart said to the squid:
"Here's looking at you, kid."

 

[Caitlin]

I have your blog on RSS and LOVE it!

I like both sides of the calamabes. Once you know the secret, it is like looking into eyes. Owl eyes, kind of.

If I ever get down there again, I want to visit Sr Galindo's Curio Shop! Those seahorses are huge! And I bet he has lots of other interesting things...

Good work, as always Douglas. I am so proud I know you and Manuel, and Enrique. What a combination of scholarship, integrity and perseverance! Yours is simply the best pearl farm in the world, with the most unique pearls.

Guaymas is a great place to visit, with a huge variety of super fresh seafood, gorgeous views which are totally unique, fresh squeezed orange juice, Mexican Cokes (they taste like the Cokes of the 1950's in America) and PEARLS. Pretty heavenly combo.

And the best fish tacos, ever. Tucson, even with its 2x daily deliveries of Sea of Cortez fish, can't touch the ones in Guaymas.

Love ya all.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

"The Mysterious Calamabe Pearl" ... these so called "Squid Pearls" are very interesting, almost mesmerizing to look at...

Fascinating discovery Doug!

Diablo Rojo are indeed extraordinary marauders. They recover more than 30% of what they eat in body weight and have an average lifespan of 500 days.

Only now, do I realize missed opportunities with Octopus dofleni.