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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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Unusually Large Flux-Grown Synthetic Sapphire
An abnormally large flux-grown synthetic sapphire rough crystal is examined in a lab in India.
Hammered Effect in a Worked Pearl
A natural saltwater pearl displays the optical illusion of a bumpy texture.
Akoya Cultured Pearl Prize in an Arcade-Style Claw Game
Arcade-style games in Japan dispense akoya pearl jewelry as prizes.
Remarkably Large Akoya Bead Cultured Pearls
Strands of unusually large round Japanese akoya pearls were spotted in early 2024 in Tucson.
The Appeal of Non-Nacreous Pearls
Several vendors offered a variety of impressive non-nacreous pearls at the Tucson gem shows.
Iridescent Imitation Pearl
A brown oval specimen submitted to the Bangkok laboratory resembles a pen pearl at first glance.
Two Pen Pearls from Bahrain
GIA’s Mumbai laboratory reports on two non-nacreous pen pearls from Bahrain.
Two Foraminifera-Like Objects Found in a Natural Saltwater Pearl
Examination of a brown nacreous pearl reveals a pair of foraminifera-like spheres.
Seed Pearls in an Antique Indian-Style Headdress
GIA’s Mumbai laboratory analyzes seed pearls decorating an Indian-style headdress.
Tubular Feature in a Natural Pearl
Investigation of a tubular feature in a natural pearl reveals evidence of parasitic activity.
An Unusual Partially Non-Nacreous Pinctada radiata Natural Blister Pearl
A large Pinctada radiata natural blister pearl displays a unique reaction under long-wave ultraviolet light.
A Fascinating Large South Sea Bead Cultured Pearl
An exceptionally large South Sea bead cultured pearl is examined at GIA’s Mumbai laboratory.
