ABOUT US
Global Gemology & Appraisals is an NAJA Accredited Gemological Laboratory, owned and operated by one of the gem and jewelry industry's most highly-credentialed experts. Scott Papper is a Graduate Gemologist (GIA), Certified Master Appraiser (NAJA), Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA), Registered Gemologist Appraiser (ISG), and Accredited Senior Gemologist (AGA), to name only a handful. Scott is a fourth generation gem and jewelry professional with experience as an independent appraiser, gemologist, jewelry buyer, pawnbroker, and expert witness. In addition to having performed appraisal services for both private clients and those within the trade, he has also been engaged as a subcontractor to assist with the valuation of jewelry and watches that have been confiscated by US government agencies, including the US Secret Service (USSS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the US Coast Guard (USCG).
ABOUT THE ITEM
Conch pearls are amongst 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. Queen Conchs 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. Very rarely, a natural pearl will be found inside a conch shell. These natural conch pearls are produced when an irritant, such as a parasite, enters the mollusk. As a defense mechanism, the conch will coat the irritant with a calcium carbonate, over time producing a porcelain-like pearl. Approximately 1 out of every 10,000 to 15,000 conchs will produce a pearl. Only 1 out of every 100,000 to 150,000 conchs will produce a gem quality conch pearl! Conch pearls can range in color from pink to red, orange, brown and white, sometimes displaying a characteristic known as flame structure that appears as a fire burning on the pearl's surface. This flame-like or silk-like appearance is due to a phenomena known as chatoyancy. It's unusual for a conch pearl to exceed 3mm in diameter. Conch pearls over 10mm are considered exceptionally rare, especially in pink to red hues with visible flame.
This extremely rare natural conch pearl weighs 2.12 carats and measures approximately 11.00 x 5.50 x 5.30mm! It is a gorgeous pink and white color with gem flame patterning which is visible to the naked eye! It does have brown discoloration at both tips, as well as surface-reaching fractures.
| PEARL DETAILS |
| Quantity: |
1 |
| Type: |
Conch |
| Mollusk: |
Lobatus Gigas (Conch) |
| Nature: |
Natural |
| Environment: |
Saltwater |
| Size: |
11.00 x 5.50 x 5.30mm |
| Shape: |
Oval with Pointed Tips |
| Color: |
Pink, Natural |
| Luster: |
Porcelaneous |
| Phenomenon: |
Gem Flame Patterning (Chatoyancy) |
| Treatments: |
None |
| Carat Weight: |
2.12 ct. |
