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Pearl
Perfect shining spheres. Lustrous baroque forms. Seductive strands, warm to the touch. Pearls are simply and purely organic.

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Research
Cultured Pearl Market Update
An up-close look at the cultured pearl’s role in the gem and jewelry industry.
Natural Pearl Aggregates from Pteria Mollusks
Ten loose pearls with interesting shapes and internal growth features were from Pteria-species mollusks.
Observations on Pearls Reportedly from the Pinnidae Family (Pen Pearls)
Examines the internal structure, chemical composition, and spectroscopic features of 22 pen pearls.
Natural Pearls Reportedly from a Spondylus Species (“Thorny” Oyster)
A rare look at natural pearls from a known Spondylus species, commonly called “thorny” oysters.
Books: Jewels of the Romanovs: Family & Court
Review of Stefano Papi’s Jewels of the Romanovs: Family & Court.
Books: Kentucky Agate:State Rock and Mineral Treasure of the Commonwealth
Review of Ronald McIntosh and Warren Anderson's Kentucky Agate: State Rock and Mineral Treasure of the Commonwealth.
Books: Ruby & Sapphire:A Collector’s Guide
Review of Richard Hughes’s Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector’s Guide.
Books: Unique by Design: Contemporary Jewelry in the Donna Schneier Collection
Review of Suzanne Ramljak's Unique by Design: Contemporary Jewelry in the Donna Schneier Collection.
Books: Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs
Shell Pearl as a Pearl Imitation
Examination of commercially-available “shell pearls” reveals imitation material.
Fossilized Drusy Shells – Tucson 2014
Fossilized gastropod shells, trademarked for use in jewelry, are exhibited at the 2014 Tucson gem shows.









