What kind of pearl is this? Inherited ring with xrays from mom.

[Hbowell]

Its a vintage peice and she has xrays in the bag as well that were left to me.. I will post some pictures.If its natural I was wondering where I could go to get it certified as a natural pearl. I live in Edmonds Washington.
Thanks

 

[Caitlin]

I am no expert at xrays but it does look like there is a bead inside. The outside also looks like a cultured pearl a very large and pretty one.Let's see what others think.

 

[pattye]

Lovely pearl and ring! Is the ring shank marked so we know what the metal is? The mounting in the xray looks slightly different from the one the pearl is set in now, although very similar.

 

[Hbowell]

I hope these upload... The shank was replaced. The old shank I stillhave in the baggie with the xrays but the shank became tobrittle so it was repklaced with new platinum. The mark on both shanks is plat. Sooooo I guess the negs were taken twice. Its just weird that there are negs with this pearl. Maybe to prove it NOT natural... or???? Soooo Im here asking the experts. LOL

 

[Hbowell]

Here is the ring in the house... on my finger

 

[Hbowell]

Here are more outside photos... you can see my camera phone in the pearl.. LOL.. Sorry.

 

[Hbowell]

I have the old shank as wellif you need pictures of that. ... I think I took to many pictures but... Let me know what you all think. I thought it was odd this had all the negs and no appraisal . Whatever the outcome I will need a guess on price and maybe a place that certifies or appraises pearls?
Thanks
H

 

[jshepherd]

It looks like a cultured South Sea pearl. if you think there is a chance that it could be a natural, you need to send it to a lab like GIA. They aren't going to give you a value or tell you much about the quality, unfortunately, but they will tell you whether it is natural or cultured. The difference in value would be huge.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

It's cultured.

The nucleus is perfectly round and presents with lateral lines. If this were a natural pearl, there would be concentric circles and other irregularities.

 

[CortezPearls]

It's cultured.

The nucleus is perfectly round and presents with lateral lines. If this were a natural pearl, there would be concentric circles and other irregularities.

I agree...looks cultured, but maybe if you use a scanner to provide us with a better image of the x-ray it would be better. Lovely piece!

 

[Hbowell]

The consensus seems to be cultured. I will see what I can do to scan the negs and post them tomorrow. So I can take it to any jeweler and have it appraised for indurance purposes?
Thanks soooooo much for all your insight today. Natural would have been an amazing find but I do love the ring either way... since it was my moms.

 

[Hbowell]

I agree...looks cultured, but maybe if you use a scanner to provide us with a better image of the x-ray it would be better. Lovely piece!

Here are the scanned x-rays... Again, thanks for all your replies.

 

[lisa c]

I'm sorry, did someone say "Too many pictures"? Can't happen! We love ​pictures, and Thank You for posting them!

 

[GemGeek]

The platinum ring is probably worth a lot more than the pearl due to high metal prices. Your Mom probably had hopes that it was natural and took it to her dentist. The older setting would have led her to wonder. I love all the photos and it's a super ring. I hope you enjoy it - I would! Welcome to the forum.