agatemaggot
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Post by agatemaggot on Feb 11, 2018 12:26:41 GMT -5
While In Hawaii many years back, my wife and I spotted a vendor on our hotel grounds that was selling Akoya Oysters with seed pearls inside. You would pick out an Oyster from the tank and open it, then, dig around in there until you exposed the Pearl, then, the guy would clean it with a salt impregnated towel and if you wanted, would mount it in a setting of your choice. The wife wanted to get in there and get a Pearl for a pendant for a momento of the trip. When she dug that Pearl out of the Oyster she got so excited she almost wet her pants. You know we had to do it the second time to get one for a ring !
I DON'T want to admit how much those items set me back but it was a really neat experience for her and she still tells people about how she came by the Pearl in the ring she still wears.
A while back I spotted an article about Atoya Oysters and they sell them by mail. They are treated in a preservative and sealed in a
plastic envelope. You simply cut open the vacume sealed bag, pinch the Oyster between your fingers until it opens slightly and then slide a dull knife like tool in the space and force the blade thru to separate the connecting muscle and then dig thru the body inside until you find your little treasure. Most of the Pearls run 7 mm. on up in size.
They have even figured out how to color the damn things. I rather think it involves an organic dye and a vacume chamber before inserting the seed made from freshwater clam shell.
Was curious if anyone on here has had anything to do with these things ?
My wife had so much fun with it in Hawaii I ordered some of them so she could have another go at it !
Anybody ?
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Post by mohs on Feb 11, 2018 12:36:01 GMT -5
Not sure this is the same thing
but years ago at the State Fair
A couple years in a row
I had really good luck choosing oysters w/ excellent pearls
shine, form, opulence …ect
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agatemaggot
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Post by agatemaggot on Feb 11, 2018 13:39:47 GMT -5
Probably the same set up, after reading more on these, I see they are having (OYSTER PARTIES ). You can order in bulk of 100 or more !
Would probably be the highlight of the evening for a ladies wine tasting get together !
In larger lots the Oysters run about the same price as a Beer ! $40.00 or $50.00 would probably get you voted Husband of the year !
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Post by drocknut on Feb 11, 2018 13:41:22 GMT -5
Never heard of them until you posted. Hope your wife has fun with the ones you ordered.
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lookatthat
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Post by lookatthat on Feb 11, 2018 16:16:06 GMT -5
There are more than one kind of pearl oysters you can buy. There is the thin-shelled oyster variety where the pearl comes in 7 Majikal Colors or some such. Most of these, the pearl has been implanted somehow. These open easily, they are cheap and fun and cool and mysterious. I've bought several of these myself.
Then there are the real oysters. The shells are big, heavy, expensive, and difficult enough to open that many people hurt themselves trying to get into them. They are gem pearls. This elderly couple in the area used to travel around to different fairs with them until the arthritis got too bad in their hands to open them. I went three times over the years. The first two were small but pretty in a classic light-yellow pearl color. The third time was a large yellowish pearl so impressive that I had them set it with the flaw facing out so I could prove it was real. Sometimes I'm glad I did, sometimes not. Anyway, I had it set on a gold shark-tooth pin.
If you guys get really hooked on the thin oysters, you might want to look into getting some of the big boys. They are more difficult in every way, including harder to find. I've never had the guts to send for a lot.
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Post by fernwood on Feb 11, 2018 17:55:46 GMT -5
Cultured pearls vs natural ones. Know the source.
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lookatthat
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Post by lookatthat on Feb 11, 2018 19:37:30 GMT -5
I believe all of the above are cultured, but there is a huge variance among cultured pearls, and among the varieties of pearl-bearing mollusks.
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agatemaggot
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Post by agatemaggot on Feb 12, 2018 10:32:30 GMT -5
I watched a film on cultured Pearls and they said the quality item is left in the oyster for about 3 years, I am sure these are in for JUST long enough to get enough coating to qualify as COATED !
In case the girls want to wear one of these I am looking for settings if anyone would have an idea there !
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lookatthat
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Post by lookatthat on Feb 12, 2018 11:02:23 GMT -5
The vast majority of "Akoya" pearls sold "in the shell" are freshwater pearls instead, grown in one mollusk, removed, sorted, possibly treated, and then placed in another for shipping, which is how you can now order hot pink and other color pearls "in the oyster."
Easiest settings would be the basket or cage types, no tools necessary, instant results, no damage to the pearl, and you can always remove later to put in a more formal setting if you want. You can get them on ebay, and probably some craft shops.
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lookatthat
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Post by lookatthat on Feb 12, 2018 11:04:22 GMT -5
To clarify, some of the ones sold in Hawaii ARE the real thing.
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 12, 2018 12:18:09 GMT -5
My understanding is that Akoya pearls come from only one place in Japan- Akoya. They are very expensive.
Cultured pearls have come a long way. I remember when they were crap, but you can get some real nice ones now. Thank the Chinese for doing something right.
As for these pearls in the shell- just about every tourist destination seems to have a kiosk with them. All the amusement parks around here have them. My daughters signot got a very, very nice one in Texas somewhere and had it set. Cost a fortune for that little basket setting!
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NRG
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Post by NRG on Feb 27, 2018 19:34:11 GMT -5
Cultured pearls vs natural ones. Know the source. Natural pearls do not exist in any commercially viable quantities. Its safe to assume 100% of all spherical pearls are cultured. You want natural pearls? Better get a second mortgage ot have deep pockets. and yes, the nacre is a coating on a marble bead set in the mantle. source: I have been doing a shit tun of research on this topic lately. Maybe retire on them.... maybe not. |
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Post by RickB on Mar 8, 2018 10:02:25 GMT -5
Went to Sea World in Orlando FL a few years ago and they had live pearl oysters in a tank they were selling. Don't remember the cost though. Rick B
Ps: The tank was large and a mermaid dove down to get the oyster.
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 9, 2018 13:22:04 GMT -5
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 9, 2018 13:25:19 GMT -5
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lookatthat
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Post by lookatthat on Mar 9, 2018 22:04:58 GMT -5
I can no longer find the site I saw a few years ago with the real heavy-duty saltwater pearl oysters.
It's all been taken over by the thin-shelled mussels with the planted pearls.
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NRG
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Post by NRG on Mar 10, 2018 15:50:54 GMT -5
I can no longer find the site I saw a few years ago with the real heavy-duty saltwater pearl oysters. It's all been taken over by the thin-shelled mussels with the planted pearls. All pearls have been "planted" (cultured really) for 60 years. Salt water or fresh. Both can still be purchased. |
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lookatthat
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Post by lookatthat on Mar 10, 2018 20:32:37 GMT -5
I don't mean cultured. I know they are all cultured. When I say "planted," I mean the seed material is put into one mussel, where it grows a freshwater pearl (cultured), then harvested from that mussel and "planted" into another mussel, packaged and shipped. That's how you can actually order lots of pearls 'in the shell' all one color, say, black, green, magenta, pink, etc,(I'm surprised there are no rainbow ones yet), or you can get ones that have natural color. The seller knows exactly what is inside because they put it there. They weren't grown at all in the "oyster" they are packaged in. You used to be able to buy real pearl oysters with their actual (cultured) pearl inside that had grown in that actual oyster. They hadn't been grown elsewhere and transplanted. No one had handled, dyed, moved the pearl since it was seeded years before. These were large, thick, heavy saltwater oysters, expensive to grow and buy, difficult and dangerous to open... but they were real, and the pearls inside were real gem-quality saltwater pearls. Not all were great, of course. Out of the three I bought, two were mediocre smallish yellow ones, but the last one, a very large white one, is really quite striking.
If you look on ebay you will see what I mean about ordering in-the-shell mussels according to color. Heck, you can even get shaped ones now. Nothing says natural like a magenta cross pearl!
If you know where I can still get the other kind (real oyster with cultured pearl) I may be interested in buying some.
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NRG
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Post by NRG on Mar 11, 2018 17:58:22 GMT -5
My research centers around buying pearls. Not pearls in shells. Forgive my error. I did t understand your meaning, your recent description broke thru my mental block wall....  If I run across the old school random oyster pearls and not the planted veriety, I promise a link. Have a great week! |
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lookatthat
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Post by lookatthat on Mar 11, 2018 18:54:45 GMT -5
Thank, 'preciate it.
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