Conch Pearl

Conch pearls are among the rarest gems in the world. 

A conch is a medium to large-sized marine gastropod from the Strombidae family, known as the Lobatus Gigas (formerly known as Strombus Gigas), or Queen Conch.  They are found off the coast of the Bahamas, Florida Keys, Caribbean Islands and Bermuda where they're harvested for their delicious meat.  Popular conch dishes include conch fritters, conch salad, and conch chowder.

Statistically, only 1 in 10,000 to 15,000 conchs will produce any kind of pearl.  Of those, only 1 in 100,000 to 150,000 yields a gem-quality pearl suitable for jewelry.  Talk about rare!

Unlike traditional pearls, conch pearls are non-nacreous and have a porcelaneous luster.  Their most prized feature is their elusive flame structure — a silky, flame-like visual effect caused by chatoyancy, that appears to shimmer across the surface.  Conch pearls are typically small (under 3mm), and those exceeding 10mm in pink to red hues with visible flame are considered extraordinary.