This is where we will discuss precious materials from Animals (Ivory), Plants (Amber) and Sealife (Pearls, corals, shells)

Ohhhh, baby!! Poils! you couldn't pay me to wear amber, way too sappy ;-D

Hey, with a big enough whole critter in it, I'd do a Lady Godiva for Amber... What color Poils? I brought back a $20,000 (or was it $45,000) necklace for Gi's bridal shower in Tahitian Black ones...!

Well, I'm not a big fan of the pinky or peachy colored ones, but I'd never turn down basic white or Tahitian Black. I remember the necklace for Gi's shower or were there two? One was gorgeous. Am drooling right now over a gorgeous single Tahitian black pearl, sandwiched between two bezel-set diamonds on an 18K white gold omega chain. Cover of the Bailey Banks & Biddle summer catalogue. Only $1,800. A bargain compared with Gi's necklace, but only one pearl of unknown mm. Love these non-eco topics. ;-D

There was a long necklace of large pearls and one with a pendant, I believe. They were smashing, no?!

(And I much prefer shiny bright object than angst - any day!!!)

Gi's jewels... Oh they were magnificent! Wish they were mine in real life too ;-)

I'm back again. I love the Tahitian black pearls. They are so expensive. One day though I plan to at least get the ear rings.

I thought I would settle for a nice cleveage dangler with substantial gold which I would match with the earrings. Or a clavicle hugger... But, at the rate I am going, I shall just admire the ones on other people. The way I figure it, why buy something I want to see and admire then put it on me where everyone except me can see it. My earrings are usually plain ones.

From the number of black pearls I've been seeing out there, am wondering how many are truly natural vs. dyed cultured pearls. I'm going to have to scan that single black pearl necklace in for you to see, Marcia. It says it is Mikimoto but I know that company's pearl beds are in Japan. Thought the black ones were only found around Tahiti, or do you think Mikimoto is seeding its oysters with something to create black pearls in greater quantities than found naturally?

Mikimoto has established pearl fisheries in the Tahiti - Tonga area. They do it the same way as in Japan, but use the oysters native to the black pearl area. It seems they are very successful. Be aware there are "bargain" black pearls out there which are dyed. Just be sure of your jeweller's integrity and his source for them.

(Marcia)The way I figure it, why buy something I want to see and admire then put it on me where everyone except me can see it. That was very well put, Marcia, and I'll try to remember it when I can't afford some jewelry I like!;-D *But*... my favourite jewels are rings... :-(

Mine, too, Gi! I need about 10 more fingers to accommodate what I have...and toes, too?!

Do American ladies wear several rings in one finger, like the Spanish and Portuguese do? ;-)

yes....especially stack rings....

All depends on how long one's fingers are. The stack rings I have are all very narrow, but I still have difficulty wearing more than two because of how short my fingers are.

finally, women are following the finest style of jewellry designs.

Hello, Helen, Welcome. I have long fingers, and on my "wedding ring" finger I have a plain gold band (wedding ring to keep unwanted mashers away) topped by a guard, then my Alexandrite, then another guard on top of that. I do have a friend who stacks all sorts of very valuable heirloom rings on her fingers and it looks trashy...even though she has a huge amount of money festooning her fingers. Things should sort-of go togehter, imo.

What are guards?

i showed the alpha male the orbis rings and he thinks they're silly. there are petite styles and huge styles, necklaces, and earrings. the max stack rings i wear are three on my right index finger. they were my grandmother's (diamond, ruby, and sapphire all set in silver). but if i wear them, i limit the other rings. maybe just my anniversary ring and another silver on my right hand. i don't care for the look of rings on all fingers, but some folks just want to wear everything they own at once.

guards are rings designed to wrap around a ring. they're also known as wraps. some are designed with two bands where you can slip a solitaire in between. they're to enhance the solitaire. some have gems and some are plain.

In my case, guards are plain little thin bands which keep the Alexandrite solitaire in place on top of the wedding band and set it off a little. Wraps actually interlock with the solitaire and are lovely - much nicer than guards. Ring guards can also augment your original plain wedding band and make it look wider and more elegant if they are done is stones or cutwork.

A place to talk about jools!? Gi's were so nice. Having been brought up to be a Southern Belle, I used to never leave the house without at least one piece of jewelry, but with time (a great deal of it, it seems to me), I went on a sabbatical. I can't even stand to wear a watch; things seem to interrupt the energy pulsing underneath my fair skin. I'd like to wear a pendant watch if I could ever find one I liked. And yes I know they're _so_ over; that's precisely the time to wear things, in my book. But abo t jools. I'm so boring. Diamonds, pearls, sapphires, the end. Nary an emerald has ever lain upon me. Once an exhusband bought me a jade necklace, but I returned it; way too expensive for the amount of time I'd wear it. I mean, you can't just go around wearing jade any old time, unless you're Chinese, or can you? Maybe it's just that I've become more minimalist. One really great piece. As long as it doesn't block the flow. I was given a lot of amber in Russia, since they're so fond of it, but since I'm not I gave it to Russians stateside and made a lot of people happy.

Wow! Welcome dear...we have two Jool topics in here. The inorganic stuff is down the numbers a ways..and there is a nice discussion of CF in Vulcanism (you'll see why!) *lol* is there any way we can keep him from cropping up in our conversations?! And, if we could, would we really want to? Pendant watches on long, swag chains pinned up at the left shoulder is "the" way to wear them - I have my Grandmother's in turquoise enamel and gold. It is exquisite, but arrived into my keeping without the swag. I shall never afford one strong enough to hold it up there, but it is still gorgeous! You can wear Jade Anytime in Hawaii. Any kind, any style, anytime. Lots of it, too.

Time to wax lyrical about Amber. Love the stuff but have only three tiny pieces none of which have any bugs or interesting inclusions. I am working on the Geologist kid to get me one, but he keeps getting them for girl friends who then part from him. I am his eternal mother...oh well. Back to the Amber... Tree resin...over time hardened into something like plastic but still containing the fragrance of the original tree sap. If you are a romantic like I am, you will appreciate these two wasps captured forever in amber in the act of mating.

Ooops! ...they are not wasps...they are scavenger flies, as it plainly states!

how did you know i wanted to talk about amber too? as i was waiting for the topic to open, i was putting together my amber statement. anyway, i was thinking, wouldn't it be neat if i could find an 8mm amber bead to put in my orbis ring? wonder where i could find one....any ideas?

Funny you should ask...I happen to have a few URLs for you of amber dealers: http://goldray.com/amberlady/ This is the gems and fossils webring http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=gems;list

I did an google search for "amber" and came up with several dealers... this one is the best, but it is sometimes "down" (poor English, but I think you know what I mean...) http://www.kadets.d20.co.edu/~lundberg/amber.html

thank you thank you thank you!

Let us know of your success. I know they have beads loose for stringing in some of those wholesale places...! It would be lovely in your Orbis ring!

(Marcia)Let us know of your success. Yes, please! I don't own, or wear, much jewelry (less and less, actually), but enjoy reading about yours, and always enjoy looking at it in stores :-)

here's a scanned image of the only piece of amber i own. marcia, i sent this pic to one of your amber sources and also asked for pricing on an 8mm bead.

How pretty! Thank you for scanning it. Unfortunately, amber is very soft and as a pendant on a ring, it will get abraded rather quickly losing its luster. Be careful with how you wear it! I still think enclosed in your wires of the Orbis ring is the best way to wear it...all save and sound inside the protecting captive mounting.

Lovely, Wolf! Although I would never wear an insect, however well encased in amber, I guess i might wear a leaf or a flower if there are any around.

lotsa ferns...I think...

Talk about having the world on a string...You can capture it for your Orbis ring Gi's gift:

I love that little world - it's gonna show up a lot. Thank you Gi Dear !

You are very welcome!

Oh My Dear!!!! How darling...Thanks for such cute and different little gems for Geo. *grinning ear-to-ear*

Let me get in here a minute. As a former manager of a Tahitian Black Pearl Store, let me say that Mikimoto is not in the Black Pearl business, as much as he supplies seeders to the Tahitian growers. This is for a fee, and also in exchange for a much reduced price on Blacks. Face it; the Japanese are the most successful in the world at grafting oysters. How to tell if a pearl is a Tahitian?... size IS everything. The PINCTADA MARGUERITIFERA oyster, known as the black lipped oyster, produces pearls between 9 and 15 mm, with some larger ones on occasion. I have sold a matched set of three bronze Tahitians at 13mm, and have handled one beauty that was 25mm. If a pearl is under 9mm, the chances are over 90% that it is a dyed white pearl. The only exception is if you have proof of growing location, as the Marquesas islands are growing some smaller ones in their colder water, but the color is not as good as it should be.

Lance! E Komo Mai! I am delighted to read your post. We have needed an expert in the business...and you will be ours, please? Which color of Tahitian Black Pearls is the most costly and which the least? Given that the size and shape are not part of the equation. Yippee! We finally have someone who really knows his pearls...*grin*

As I recall, Your Tahitian Black Pearl is mounted in a gold scallop shell and suspended in your suprasternal notch by a slender gold chain which makes it appear to float there. Most attractive...

Size and shape ARE the equation. Color is the most subjective catagory, and totally a personal choice. My experience says that dark, shiny greens and rainbows of green, blue, and pink are the most prized, but not always. Luster and depth of color are far more important. If a pearl is highly lusterous, and the color seems to emanate from deep inside, not just painted on the surface, it is a much better pearl. Size comes in after the pearl is 12mm. From 9 - 12mm, the price increases steadily. From 12mm up, it increases exponentially!A good 12mm could retail at 800- 1000, but a 13 of the same shape and color will be 1000 - 1500! The 13mm's I sold went for 12000 as a set, due to their size, rare color, and exceptional luster. My rule-of-thumb is that you should go by the color of your skin. Lighter skinned people should wear lighter pearls, say light greens, light blues, pinks, greys, and combos. Darker skinned people should wear darker greens, true blacks, as well as combos. Get what you like in co or is the only way to go. But get the highest luster and the best depth of color possible for quality.

This man K N O W S his pearls!

Thanks.

Then, by saying that size IS the equation, there is not a rare color or combination of colors? I cannot believe some you showed me are all the same price aside from the gold mounting. They were all about the same size but what a variety of colors they were! This is the best collection of colors of black pearls I could find tonight. Comments, Lance?

I think if I am ever fortunate enough to own one, I am taking him along with me to guide me in my choice...*grin*

Hi Lance! Any samples or rejects? Since you mentioned that Mikimoto was not in the black pearl business, I went back to my old comments at the beginning of this topic. I questioned that too, but Marcia said that Mikimoto had established an operation in Tonga. I still have that Bailey Banks & Biddle catalog with the simple, yet elegant necklace on the cover (which I will scan in one of these days). The Mikimoto trademarked name is there, as well as on a page with their overpriced regular pearls. I've never understood how anyone could wear such a huge pearl on a ring, which is how I see them used all the time. Criminy, it would get banged up and nicked. It would probably come out of its mounting and get lost. If anyone had a long strand of them, no one would believe they were real (pop-in beads more like). Earrings work ok for me. As a former manager of a Tahitian Black Pearl Store, let me say that Mikimoto is not in the Black Pearl business, as much as he supplies seeders to the Tahitian growers. This is for a fee, and also in exchange for a much reduced price on Blacks.

Marcia was quoting Mikimoto's web site... I shall look again to see what they are saying these days in preparation for Lance's return. I hate to disseminate erroneous information...aaarrrrgh!

I always said the only way I'd have my ears pierced was if I had the offer of a Karat Diamond for each ear. Black pearls might also be an inducement, but I still say, if I am gonna wear something that lovely, I want to be able to see it, too. A pendant is excellent. As for the ring, one wears them only to the opera, restaurant or cocktail party. Pearls on fingers are not a everyday item. Detergents will ruin them! (Lance, where are you? Did I err?!)

Karat Diamond for each ear. Works for me too. BTW, what's the topic number for mineral-type gems? I have a question for you.

http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/Geo/8/new

Another type of natural colored pearls: History of South Seas Pearls Throughout history, the most beautiful pearls were natural South Sea Pearls. Extremely rare, these pearls were by far the largest pearls in the world, and possessed a wonderful array of natural colours and shapes, and emitted a distinctive warm glow from their thick pearly nacre. Found in the large, rare and beautiful Pinctada Maxima shell species, these wonderful pearls were considered to be the "queen of all gems" by many cultures around the world. The habitat of these extraordinary shells (also known as the "Silver-Lipped Mother of Pearl Shell") is confined to a small area of ocean commonly referred to as the "South Seas", centred around Northern Australia and South-East Asia. For centuries, pearlers dived for these exotic shells for the valuable Mother of Pearl for the world's button trade. Only occasionally, pearls were found inside Mother of Pearl shells, and these pearls were regarded as a rare and valuable bonus to any pearler's catch of shell.

http://www.tahiti-blackpearls.com/ is the official website of Tahiti Black Pearls. They have some really lovely specimens from prominent jewellers. Harry Winston has a killer bracelet, and Mikimoto presents this:

The deep colors of black, gray, pink, and bronze pearls:

Oh my... *jaw dropping* Am consoling myself that I don't have the neck to wear such a thing. Is there surgery to elongate a neck? ;-)

My personal favorite (though the above one would do nicely, I think...) Pearl and diamond parure consisting of a necklace, a removable pendant and a pair of pendant earrings for a total of 18 carats of diamonds and 33 pearls.

And I have a swan neck I am always hanging things around to distract the eye from its length...

In the category of "this should never happen to beautiful natural gems: Yellow gold necklace with Tahitian pearls, rubies, cabochons and brilliant-cut diamonds.

I'll go shopping at the site later, but I noticed that there's an auction coming up soon. BWAAA

You're v. right. That is truly hideous. Who is the designer?

Gilbert Albert. I went through all of the jewelers on the left column. Stunning pearls! Wait'll Lance sees'um...! Luckily I have Nothing that goes with that last one...that goodness *grin* Yeah, I noticed that they were having an auction, too...*sigh*

...thank goodness...I was overwhelmed by the last gaudy item and got it all wrong...*lol* I'd love to see the prices on some of those, but "if you have to ask...."

Nothing like posting the wrong pictures and text in the wrong topic and doing it three times to get it right...! *sigh*

Shoot! And I was expecting to see more purty things that I couldn't afford. ;-)

I shall - but megaliths for around your neck is not what you wanted to see. Promise more tomorrow *grin* I need to see them, too *sigh*

So much for "tomorrow night..." Lance has not abandoned Geo. He is back working on his degree and has to prioritize his time. Geo comes pretty far down the list of things to do, I'm afraid. But, as long as I am here, he will not be far away.

I'd like to ask about a gem which is currently very popular in jewelery designs -- tanzanite. What is it exactly? I mean, I know that rubies are chemically the same as sapphires. Actually they're just red sapphires, just a lot more rare than other color sapphires, consequently worth much more. I also think that emeralds and aquamarines are chemically similar, but I might be wrong on that.

wow! those pearls are gorgeous! thanks lance for jumping in with some expertise. i've never really cared for pearls although i have a pearl bracelet still waiting to be restrung (creamy colored-don't tell me it's fake and dyed and stuff)....*plugging fingers into ears and singing "lalalalala"*

tanzanite is intriguing and only now gaining in popularity, cheryl, which is why they're expensive these days. i bought one right before the boom in a 10K setting (marquis center and trillion sides) i've had it checked and it's tanzanite and beautiful! the color changes when you tilt it and with the light by which you view the stones. according to my gem book, tanzanite is a variety of zoisite. (wrong topic, sorry marcia 8grin*)

Thanks, Wolfie - you're spot-on with your Tanzanite. It is the only clear and flawless form of Zoisite - discovered totally by accident in 1967. LOLROTF...I can just imagine you with fingers in your ears and singing so you cannot hear what you don't wanna hear. I'm with you! I have Lance in my tender care. He has exams today and this week so it will be a bit before he is able to post again. I shall tell him he is appreciated, however *smile*

I love pearls, the subtle irredescence of their colors. They impress, without being flashy. (There's nothing wrong with flash, sometimes it's great.) I saw the most beautiful pearl necklace in New York. It was black Tahitian deep water pearls set in platinum, very spare and elegant design, possibly Japanese. The necklace looked really good in Cartier's window; and given the state of my finances that's were it stayed.

I have that picture, Cheryl! Or at least one of Cartier's creations:

That's pretty much it. The one I saw was very slightly different, but not much. Thanks. Now I can enjoy the image. I really do love the way pearls softly diffuse light over there surfaces.

Anyone ever see a pearl this color? Spiral brooch in yellow gold, set with trapeze diamonds, Pendant with round diamond, trapeze diamond and one 14.42 carat pearl.

I do not own anything in real pearls whatsoever, but they are exquisite and flatter the wearer no matter who. Someday...perhaps...

This pearl has the lovliest color but I do not care for the setting: A brooch/pendant in yellow and white gold set with rose-cut diamonds Drop earrings with a leaf design set with 230 diamonds weighing 9.95 carats, a 35.68-carats Tahitian pearl and a 31.58-carats white pearl on white and yellow gold.

Nope. I have never seen a reddish pearl. I've seen rose pearls, they're pink, but never anything which looked so red. There are very large orange pearls which come from a type of shellfish which live off the coast of Viet Nam. I have some high quality cream colored faux pearls, which have ground up pearls in them. I quess the pearls which were ground were a little too irregular to qualify as baroque.

Your pearls sound lovely. I have mentioned the orange pearls up topic somewhere...they are pretty but only as objects, I think - unless you are a die-hard Tennessee Fan (the University of Tennessee's colors are orange and white) Here are two rings Karen worried about wearing and harming the high-mounted pearl:

You're right about the large orange pearls pretty as objects. As far as I know they're not used in jewelery. But you never know when you'll see some die-hard Tennesee fan on tv sporting an enormous orange pearl. The broach/pendant you posted was little too much. The pearl was beautiful, but the setting -- in a word, gaudy. The rings are beautiful. I understand why Karen would worry about the high mounting, and pearls are delicate as gems go. Some people won't wear a large pearl set in a ring at all.

Cheryl, I don't know what is happening with Yapp and Spring today but when I deleted the multiple posts of the pearl rings, it took your posting with it. Could you please comment again?

those rings are a bit much for me and so was that brooch! but the red pearl, it looked translucent. it's real? have only heard of the black and creamy pearls but red and then orange?

I give up. Your post showed up again and so did another set of rings. I'm gonna leave them alone until it settles down.

I think I can. You're right the large orange pearls are admired as objects in their own right, as far as I know they're not used in jewelery. Although you never know when you'll tune into a college football game and see a Tennessee fan sporting a large orange pearl. I agree with your assessment of the pearl broach/pendant; the pearl is exquisite -- but the setting is in a word, gaudy. As for Karen worrying about the high setting of the pearls, I can completely understand that. Pearls are delicate as gems go, and some people would never wear a large pearl in a ring because of that. The rings are beautiful though.

Those big heavy rings are set in solid platinum! The red "pearl" looks like a polished ruby or garnet or whatever, but you can see through it. Gonna send it to Lance to see what he says. Sorry for all of the mess here. Three repeats of those rings we did not need here!

Now, for being so patient and helping me through the Yapp software mess: Double-strand necklace of 64 pearls totaling 640.4 carats and diamonds totaling 7.71 carats. Matching ring and earrings.

Here are a group of South Seas Pearls Some colours have become more popular than others in particular markets.(eg. white in America, silver in Asia, gold and fancy colours in the 1990's) This sometimes causes a price premium on the particular colour. This factor varies over time and with fashions and due to the dictates and changes in fashion, colour will never be as important a measure of quality as lustre. Colour categories of Australian South Sea Pearls: White (including white - pink) Silver (including silver - pink) Gold (yellow) Fancy (including champagne, apricot, peach & rose) Tip: When purchasing a pearl, the best colour is the one that looks most attractive on your particular complexion.

oh boy, this wolfie is drooling! couldn't you see that pearl necklace set on a woman wearing a simple black dress with nothing else to adorn her? upswept hair so the necklace would be seen. oh, how lovely!

That one is my favorite...with the diamonds sparkling and setting off the pendant earrings and necklace. Yes! Absolutely plain black dress...upswept hair...Long neck...elegant bearing...exquisite!

Another South Seas Pearl in a lovely setting:

now i like that one! very pretty and elegant!!

A red pearl? That's a new one for me. Unfortunately, what's the use of having it when it looks like a cabochon red something. :-( Getting back to those precariously set pearls, I couldn't wear it. I'd be petrified that it would get knocked out of the setting and I'd lose it. I'm not that worried about nicking it, but losing it. Look, ma, no pearl. Speaking of which, I got a pearl ring as a present from my grandmother ages ago. What was really bizarre is that a rod went through the pearl. It had been drilled. No way to lose that baby and I got to play with it all the time, twirling to my heart's delight. One last word on Tanzanite (aside from wanting to kick myself for not buying it while there) is that you'll rarely find large stones. Back to our regular organic subject... Fabulous pictures, Marcia. That's all I needed before I head off for slumberland.

All pearls which are not strung are set on posts and epoxied into place. Nothing will dislodge them but you can bash them in against a brick wall or whatever. Wear them to the opera - not to weed the garden. Gonna send that red pearl to Lance right away...See what he says.