A friend's mother has some pearls harvested in the Sea of Cortez. They are not the round lusterous pearls. Rather they are irregular in shape, some black, some dark. She has one small strand that are pearlescent but not round. They are irregular but close in size and appearance. They certainly are a potential conversation piece and novelty for someone who loves the Sea of Cortez. I have a photo that I will try to download and will get a price if ther is any interest.
Can your friend make a single one that I can hang from my mirror in the truck?
I can ask her if she would sell one. In thinking about it I bet they are very rare. I checked several internet sales sites but found nothing like this for sale.
I can ask her if she would sell one. In thinking about it I bet they are very rare. I checked several internet sales sites but found nothing like this for sale.
I have looked at that site. They are offering cultured pearls. As I understand it these are natural pearls but I am not sure how or who harvests them. I think they do not have a lot of 'gem' value because of the shape and perhaps because they are so rare. I took some photos but they are bad so I will try again.
The history of natural pearls in the Sea of Cortez is interesting. At one time they were apparently the most valuable commodity exported, more that gold even. I belileve there were large beds near Penasco in the very ealry days. They were destroyed by over fishing !!!
I realized they were cultured but the site has a wealth of info including history. It also tells what the odds are of finding "real" Pearls in the Sea of Cortez.
I have looked at that site. They are offering cultured pearls. As I understand it these are natural pearls but I am not sure how or who harvests them. I think they do not have a lot of 'gem' value because of the shape and perhaps because they are so rare. I took some photos but they are bad so I will try again.
The history of natural pearls in the Sea of Cortez is interesting. At one time they were apparently the most valuable commodity exported, more that gold even. I belileve there were large beds near Penasco in the very ealry days. They were destroyed by over fishing !!!
Over fishing may have had something to do with it but as a species they were run out of town by the newly installed dams on the Colorado River which severely changed the upper sea of Cortes in the river delta area near San Luis - with in a few years of the dam construction the pearl bearing oysters were decimated. These special oysters needed the influx of fresh water and organism that the Colorado brought them - without it they could not survive. Thankfully though.....Phoenix and Vegas grew because of the water .....sarc on