Fingerprint Pattern on a “Hammered” Pearl’s Surface
Among a parcel of saltwater natural and cultured pearls, a white near-button, non-bead cultured pearl, weighing 3.18 ct and measuring 8.06 × 7.81 × 6.57 mm, recently stood out due to its unusual external appearance. The pearl’s surface exhibited a mosaic of indentations surrounded by ridges, visually similar to the hammered effect seen on metal ornaments (Summer 2024 G&G Micro-World, pp. 228–229). Bright spots of light reflected from the center of each polygonal subsurface indentation. Each indentation displayed a spiral pattern of nacre platelets resembling a human fingerprint, with the center of the spiral aligning with the center of each polygon (see above). The strong iridescence produced by the nacre platelets was complemented by shimmering flashes of light within the mosaic, which seemed to float just beneath the pearl’s surface. This subtle optical effect combined with the beautifully symmetrical nacre spirals makes this pearl noteworthy.
