The largest near-round natural saltwater

[Nora]

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GIA Pearl Identification Report #2165503254 describes the Putilov pearl as a drilled natural saltwater pearl of the Pinctada species of oyster measuring 19.08 x 18.88 x 16.50mm. with no indication of treatment; near-round; white body color; orient overtone.



http://en.itar-tass.com/press-releases/758265

 

[Pearl Dreams]

That is one heck of a pearl!

 

[dkan 168]

TDF brooch, thanks for sharing!

DK

 

[GemGeek]

Great post!

 

[pattye]

Thank you very much, Nora! Gorgeous and huge pearl! And some major old mine cut diamonds. The faceting is so clear!

 

[SunSeeker]

What a beauty! Thanks for sharing, Nora!

 

[SunSeeker]

I was just thinking how my daughter would have loved this in her bridal brooch last year, which was filled with pearls and CZs!! Haha!

 

[Gulf_pearls]

Thats a beautiful pearl! Thanks for posting.

What about this one?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...nd-pearl-earrings-ACCIDENT-worth-250-000.html
!!!

You can replace your eyeball with it

 

[Mikeyy]

I believe this one is bigger but not natural.

 

[pkinnew]

Thanks so much for posting this incredible pearl brooch! A true collectors piece!

 

[Nora]

Thats a beautiful pearl! Thanks for posting.

What about this one?
View attachment 32055
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...nd-pearl-earrings-ACCIDENT-worth-250-000.html
!!!

You can replace your eyeball with it

Very nice indeed.
This pearl is the near-round natural saltwater, mentioned as second largest in my link.

 

[Nora]

I believe this one is bigger but not natural.

View attachment 32056

Mikeyy dear,
Bigger? probably but in the wrong thread.....

 

[Mikeyy]

You are right, Sorry

 

[MSC]

I have been traveling quite a bit lately and I am currently visiting my home state. I found myself in Lambertville yesterday, so I stopped by Rago and spoke with one of the auction house experts (Mick Byers, a very nice gentleman) about the pearl brooch and bracelet that was subsequentially found at the NYC Pier Show recently and is likely to be from the same French royal jewel suite that the pearl in the brooch is from. I also got to snap some photos, but was not able to touch the pearl. Apparently, you needed to do some paperwork to be able to do that. Both pieces were spectacular to see in person, but I especially loved the bracelet, a late addition. I haven't time to edit the photos, so here they are in their original state.

 

[Icyjade]

What a treat to see more pics of that fabulous brooch and gorgeous bracelet. Thank you and pls post more pics if you took more.

 

[hbyrne]

Ooh, gorgeous!!! Thank you for the pics Andrea, it's good to see the pieces in relation to other objects, really helpful for judging the size. Lucky you, seeing them 'in person'...but don't you just want to grab them and try them on?!

 

[MSC]

That bracelet had me drooling! I've got some backstory on both, so when I have more than a short moment, I'll type it up

 

[MSC]

Not sure what happened to the brooch, but it was NOT auctioned off - there was no note about why it was pulled out. The bracelet sold for $675k US.
When I spoke with Mick Byer, he told me that the family of the person who owned the brooch were trying to raise money for healthcare costs for the sickly owner. Apparently, they took the brooch to a jeweler, assuming it was costume, and asked for a thousand dollars for it. The jeweler, who was amazingly ethical, told the family to go to Rago for an opinion. Lucky they did! Later, the director of the jewelry department was at the Pier show in NYC telling someone about the brooch and that person said they had a bracelet that looked just like the brooch. In disbelief, she looked at the photos the person had and that is how the bracelet ended up in the auction. So there you have it, the story behind the story!

 

[GemGeek]

Thanks for the story, Andrea!

 

[Marianne]

Yes, thank you for the amazing story and photos, Andrea! And how wonderful that you got to at least view these pieces in person. (are your poor fingers still itching?)