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Pearl
Perfect shining spheres. Lustrous baroque forms. Seductive strands, warm to the touch. Pearls are simply and purely organic.
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Natural Pearls Reportedly from a Spondylus Species (“Thorny” Oyster)
A rare look at natural pearls from a known Spondylus species, commonly called “thorny” oysters.
Books: Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs
Shell Pearl as a Pearl Imitation
Examination of commercially-available “shell pearls” reveals imitation material.
Fossilized Drusy Shells – Tucson 2014
Fossilized gastropod shells, trademarked for use in jewelry, are exhibited at the 2014 Tucson gem shows.
Assembled “Pearl” Filled with Wire
Microradiography reveals wire fillings within a “pearl” created from two separate specimens.
Red Beryl – Tucson 2014
Red beryl, mined from Utah and displayed in both loose form and in suites of jewelry, were seen at the AGTA show in Tucson.
Exceptional Gem Artistry in Sunstone, Rutilated Quartz, and Beryl – Tucson 2014
Stunning examples of gem cutting and design from the GJX Show in Tucson, Arizona.
Cultured Pearl Market Update – Tucson 2014
Cultured pearl market update from the 2014 gem shows in Tucson, Arizona.
Polymer-Impregnated Aventurine Quartz, a New Imitation of “Ice Jade”
A bangle, thought to be jadeite jade, is revealed by laboratory testing to be polymer-impregnated aventurine quartz.
Natural Pearls from Australian Pinctada Maxima
Explores the fascinating history of natural pearling in Australian waters and examines the properties that might help distinguish these natural pearls from those that are accidentally produced during the culturing process.
Spectral Characteristics of Natural-Color Saltwater Cultured Pearls from Pinctada Maxima
Natural-color saltwater cultured pearls (SWCPs) from Pinctada maxima were studied using UV-Vis-NIR and PL spectroscopy to better understand the mechanisms of their coloration and to separate them from other SWCPs with similar natural colors.
