Blue pearls

On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 04:26:24 +0800, "Marisa Cappetta" wrote: Natural Paua, (Abalone), do not produce pearls. They are made to produce them.

RAINBOW ABALONE Paua pearls: a new industry This is a virtually new form of aquaculture producing from their own stock of Abalone (or Paua) a pearl, which is being sold on the local and international market. When the Abalone reaches partial maturity a seed is implanted and from that a pearl is grown. The beautiful colours and texture of the inside of an Abalone shell is reproduced in the pearl making it very desirable for jewelry. Link found here to verify:

Harry's Happy Place

What a beautiful product! And what a logical extention of the cultured pearl technology. Do they also make round pearls, or do the adhere to the shell making these half pearls. I'd love to see what a Calif abalone's pearl would look like. It's more muted colors would give it more adaptibility is jewelry. Maybe.

Tina

of Abalone (or Paua) a pearl, which is being

that a pearl is grown. The beautiful colours and

making it very desirable for jewelry.

They are very beautiful and I love the fact that they inherit the colors of the Paua. To the best of MY knowledge, (which isn't saying alot, being I am as dumb as a bucket of rocks), I think they only produce the flatten edge, because the "seed" is place on the shell. I would think that in order for the pearl to become round it would have to be place in a fleshy fold of the meat, and Paua's don't have a fold to hold the pearl as a 2 shell mulusk has, like an oyster. Plus.. the only fleshy part of a Paua Abalone is the foot and a chunk of black meat that is attached to the shell, which is the part everyone wants and loves to eat, "If you like it". It is a food that you either love or hate. Goodness sakes... ramble..ramble..ramble... Back to the point. Yes sir it is beautiful and I also would love to have several hundred to play with! :)

Harry's Happy Place

The muscle under the shell that holds it to the rock is dark? That must have something to do with the other blue coloring it has. I haven't had abalone "steaks" for a very long time. They're yummy.

Tina

as a bucket of rocks),

the shell. I would

place in a fleshy fold

mulusk has, like an

chunk of black meat

to eat, "If you like it".

ramble..ramble..ramble...

several hundred to play with! :)

How much do these blue pearls cost?

I was thinking something along those lines about the ones in Puget Sound!

The ones I had a look at retail at anything from $200 for 10mm B Grade (which are still wonderful in colouring with a slightly textured surface) to $1,000 + for larger A Grade gems. I'd love to buy wholesale (believe me I wasn't shy about asking!!) but like the pearl industry in Aussie, it's tightly regulated here. There are only a few dealers, Eyris being one of them. I was fortunate enough to get a good, close look at their stock. Marisa (AU/NZ)

Marisa, Is that $NZ or $US or $AU?

Mavis

Hi Mavis, the prices are $NZ.

Could you give us an idea of what $NZ dollars are worth in US $? Patti

On 24 Dec 2003 15:05:04 GMT, snipped-for-privacy@aol.com (Beadseeker) wrote: You can do all conversions here:

Harry's Happy Place

Quite close to $2NZ gives you $1US, I think. So halve the $ value Marisa gave you for the pieces..

Mavis