Although not a true pearl as they have no nacre, Conch (pronounced konk) Pearls are one of the rarest and most sought after gems. They are produced by the
Queen Conch, Strombus Gigas, and are usually found as a by-product in conchs caught for food. When the animal is removed from its shell there is a yellow /orange skirt that helps create the suction that keeps it in its shell. If there is a pearl it will be in this skirt. It so happens that the skirt is also the slimiest part of the creature and many people just cut it off and throw it away. It does not do to speculate on how many pearls have been lost this way.
It has been estimated that only one in every ten thousand to fifteen thousand conch's have a pearl and of those, only some twenty percent are suitable for jewelry. Many Bahamians we know have never found one in their lives, yet others find them on a regular basis.
The colour of the pearl varies but it is usually one of the colours of the shell. The only very rare exception is black. The most desirable is hot pink with the flame effect, when the surface of the pearl looks like flames. Spherical pearls are rarely ever found. The more uniform the shape the more valuable, the higher the luster he better, and of course the larger the pearl the more it is worth.
Some conch pearls have been known to fade over time, yet we have had one for thirty years that looks just the same as when it came out of the animal. It has been suggested that sunlight is to blame for fading. If that is so, sun block should be effective when worn outdoors. Others have suggested that they should only be worn at night. We try to maintain a stock of both loose pearls and conch pearl jewelry at all times, but this can sometimes be difficult as they are offered to us only as the fisher people find them, and finished pieces are quickly snapped up by connoisseurs.
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Conch Pearl Galleries
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