[Jewelry making - Article 01150] - Re: [Orchid] Question about pearls

[Beth Rosengard]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========


Hi Suzanne,

>     Since freshwater pearls are tissue nucleated . . . 

    Some freshwater pearls are tissue-nucleated; others are
    bead-nucleated.  In fact the subject of fresh-water pearl nucleation
    has been hotly debated of late, since the Chinese are growing such
    large, round pearls and claiming they are tissue-nucleated, which
    some experts believe to be impossible. These experts say that what
    makes a round pearl round is the shape of the bead that's inserted
    and around which the oyster deposits nacre.  In fact, some of the
    Chinese fresh water pearls have been found to be nucleated with other
    pearls -- presumably imperfect/low value ones that have been ground
    down -- rather than with shell beads.  These pearl-nucleated pearls,
    since they are composed of all nacre, appear to have no nuclei. 
    Other examples when examined, however, do seem to have no perceptible
    nucleus.  The conclusion seems to be that pearl manufacturers will
    use any and every method at hand to produce a high luster, large
    round pearl as quickly as possible. 

>     Saltwater pearls being bead nucleated will seldom have [growth
>     rings], as the nacrous coating is thin over the perfectly round
>     bead. 

    There are plenty of salt-water circle pearls around!  I see them all
    the time -- in black Tahitians, for instance.  As for the nacreous
    coating of a salt water pearl, yes it would be thinner than the nacre
    of a tissue-nucleated pearl but patently not too thin to produce
    circles. 

Beth 

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________