{"id":4442,"date":"2021-03-09T17:50:34","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T12:20:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gjepc.org\/solitaire\/?p=4442"},"modified":"2021-03-09T17:52:40","modified_gmt":"2021-03-09T12:22:40","slug":"15-53-ct-pearl-discovered-in-edible-oyster-from-the-ostreidae-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gjepc.org\/solitaire\/15-53-ct-pearl-discovered-in-edible-oyster-from-the-ostreidae-family\/","title":{"rendered":"15.53 ct Pearl Discovered in Edible Oyster from the Ostreidae Family"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A white, non-nacreous baroque pearl weighing 15.53 ct and measuring 19.54 \u00d7 13.26 \u00d7 11.57 mm (figure 1) was recently submitted to GIA\u2019s Carlsbad laboratory for examination. Information from previously observed non-nacreous pearls submitted to GIA suggested the pearl was of scallop origin\u2014a member of the Pectinidae family. The supporting evidence included a calcite peak seen at 280 cm\u20131<\/sup> with associated peaks at 712, 1085, and 1437 cm\u20131<\/sup> in the Raman spectrum, combined with a patchy surface appearance. Additionally, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) chemical analysis showed low levels of manganese (Mn), confirming a saltwater growth environment. Real-time microradiography (RTX) revealed its natural formation, with a growth arc structure that followed the pearl\u2019s overall shape and a rounded, slightly less radio-opaque core (figure 2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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RTX imaging revealed a growth arc structure surrounding a rounded core of less radio-opacity, indicating the pearl formed naturally.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The client later informed the laboratory that the pearl had been found in an edible oyster while eating at a restaurant. Unfortunately, the host shell had not been retained and no photographs had been taken upon initial discovery. Despite this, the client later returned to the restaurant to obtain shells from the two types of oysters served on their menu, the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas<\/em>) and the Atlantic oyster (Crassostrea virginica<\/em>). Gemologists were able to use these shells to gather additional gemological information and compare the results to the submitted pearl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Left: A microscopic view of the shell revealed a directionless patchwork of cells with an unstructured opaque white patch. The cells exhibited a faint iridescent phenomenon when illuminated by a fiber-optic light in certain orientations; field of view 9.87 mm. Center: A nearly identical appearance can be seen on the surface of the pearl; field of view 7.19 mm. Right: A differing mosaic pattern of non-oriented cells displayed on the surface of a white scallop pearl. Each cell contains a fibrous structure, and reflected light produced a unique shimmering sheen or silky appearance; field of view 5.08 mm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Raman spectroscopic analysis verified that the shells were composed of calcite, and visual inspection showed nondirectional patches of a broad, mottled cellular structure bearing a striking resemblance to the pearl. However, these qualities are also seen in some white scallop pearls, as it is possible for them to contain a patchwork of directionless cells. A strong contrast, though, was seen in the microscopic surface appearance. The cellular structure within the oyster shells exhibited a slight reflective colored sheen in certain orientations when illuminated by a fiber-optic light, creating a faint iridescent phenomenon. This characteristic was nearly identical to the surface appearance of the pearl under examination (figure 3, left and center). Conversely, the individual cells of scallop pearls had a fibrous structure, and light reflected from them produced a shimmering sheen or silky appearance. This appearance has been noted to be a unique feature of scallop pearls in the literature (K. Scarratt and H.A. H\u00e4nni, \u201cPearls from the lion\u2019s paw scallop,\u201d\u00a0Journal of Gemmology<\/em>, Vol. 29, No. 4, 2004, pp. 193\u2013203), and an example is shown in figure 3 (right). Such features were not observed on the surface of the pearl under examination or the oyster shells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pearl and oyster shells also displayed translucency over most of their surfaces with randomly oriented opaque white patches. The cellular patchwork formation was faint or absent in these white patchy areas. This characteristic further supported their relationship (again, see figure 3, left and center).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Left: An overall patchy or mosaic pattern on the surface of the pearl; field of view 13.45 mm. Right: A similar appearance on the surface of a LaPearlite cabochon fashioned from an oyster shell; field of view 14.52 mm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the angular mosaic-like appearance with areas of soft iridescence seen on the pearl closely resembled the surface of previously observed \u201cLaPearlite\u201d cabochons fashioned from oyster shells (figure 4; see also\u00a0Summer 2018 Lab Notes, pp. 213\u2013214). Lastly, it was also noted that the pearl, oyster shells, and LaPearlite samples all possessed layers of yellowish organic material covering part of their surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With supporting surface evidence from the oyster shells and the previously examined LaPearlite cabochon samples, gemologists were able to conclude that the pearl originated from the Ostreidae family, an edible oyster rather than a species of scallop, or member of the Pectinidae family. A few oyster pearls have been previously recorded in the literature (C.P. Idyll, \u201cThe pearls of Margarita,\u201d\u00a0Americas<\/em>, Vol. 19, No. 8, 1967, pp. 8\u201314; K. Scarratt et al., \u201cA note on a pearl attached to the interior of\u00a0Crassostrea virginica<\/em>\u00a0(Gmelin, 1791) (an edible oyster, common names, American or Eastern oyster),\u201d\u00a0Journal of Gemmology<\/em>, Vol. 30, No. 1\/2, 2006, pp. 43\u201350;\u00a0Fall 2019 Gem News International, pp. 439\u2013440). Yet this is the first examination by GIA gemologists of a pearl known to have been produced from the Ostreidae family (true oyster) mollusk, as well as the first GIA pearl identification report for one. Additionally, the significant size and weight of this 15.53 ct pearl are noteworthy. Although oyster pearls are not of prime importance within the global pearl market, they are rare, curious novelties that can offer insight to the scientific pearl community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Article republished with permission from GIA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.gia.edu\/gems-gemology\/fall-2020-labnotes-pearl-discovered-in-edible-oyster<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A white, non-nacreous baroque pearl weighing 15.53 ct and measuring 19.54 \u00d7 13.26 \u00d7 11.57 mm (figure 1) was recently submitted to GIA\u2019s Carlsbad laboratory for examination. Information from previously observed non-nacreous pearls submitted to GIA suggested the pearl was of scallop origin\u2014a member of the Pectinidae family. The supporting evidence included a calcite peak…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4443,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[95,100],"tags":[],"thb-sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-4442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coloured-gemstones","category-in-focus"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n15.53 ct Pearl Discovered in Edible Oyster from the Ostreidae Family - Solitaire magazine is a International jewellery magazine - India\u2019s leading B2B gem and jewellery magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gjepc.org\/solitaire\/15-53-ct-pearl-discovered-in-edible-oyster-from-the-ostreidae-family\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"15.53 ct Pearl Discovered in Edible Oyster from the Ostreidae Family - Solitaire magazine is a International jewellery magazine - India\u2019s leading B2B gem and jewellery magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A white, non-nacreous baroque pearl weighing 15.53 ct and measuring 19.54 \u00d7 13.26 \u00d7 11.57 mm (figure 1) was recently submitted to GIA\u2019s Carlsbad laboratory for examination. 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