It must be a big thrill to find one of these. My parents bought a shell which grows these pearls on Catalina Island in California many years ago and as a child I never tired of gazing into its loveliness. The pearls from this mollusk are just as beautiful as the mother shell.
These pearls are especially interesting on account of their brilliant and unusual colors. Green predominates, but blue and yellow also occur. Although commonly very small, some of the well-formed ones exceed seventy-five grains in weight, and those of irregular shape may be very much larger. The ear-shells also produce many irregular pearly masses. Their beautiful greenish or blueish tints adapt them for artistic jeweled objects, such as the body of a fly or of a beetle.
The ear-shells or abalone (Haliotidae), univalves, attach themselves to the rocks by means of their large muscular disk-shaped foot, which acts like a sucker or an exhaust-cup. These, found on the coasts of California, Japan, New Zealand, and other localities in the Pacific, secrete pearly concretions, sometimes with fine luster.
These shells resemble in general outline the form of the human ear. Distinguishing characteristics are the flatly-spiral bowl-like shape, and the regular series of holes in the back near the distal margin, for the admission of water to the respiratory organs. The holes are on the left side and parallel with the columellar lip, and those nearest the apex close up as the shell increases in size. The shells are rough externally, but beautifully nacreous within. In variety and intensity of coloring, the nacre is superior to that of the pearl-oysters, but it is not so harmonious, and it does not form so thick and flat a layer.
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Abalone Punch Out Boy
Hello! My name is Rick. I have lived in Morro Bay, CA. since birth. My family was in the abalone industry since the 1940's. My father was a hard hat diver ...
NorCal Abalone Pearl 6/18/11
To make this story more interesting, I have it all on video, from the dive to pulling the pearl out of the abalone.
The dive:
The pearl:
As ...
Unusual Abalone Pearl
I have been diving for Abalone since 1970 and I have only found small round abalone pearls that are attached to the gonad of the Red Abalone. However,...
Paua Pearl
I have a Paua pearl that was given to my Grandmother by a the family of a Maori King 80 + years ago, she saved their lives when they had a terrible flu....
Red Abalone Pearl 22 Carat 28MM x 20MM
Beautiful Abalone Pearl from Fort Bragg, CA. Trying to get an idea of what to do with it. Thought about necklace or even a decorative inlaid peice for ...
Jelly Bean Abalone Pearl
I always look for pearls when I get abalone and have found some small pearls.
This one was a great find.
Natural Abalone Pearl Jewelry Set
I have been diving off the northern California coast for 30+ years. I have found numerous abalone pearls but these are the ones that I had made into jewelry ...
North California Abalone Pearl
Harvested a 9 1/4 inch abalone from North California Coast. When I went to clean the abalone this is the gift I received. The photos don't do it justice....
Huge Perfect Shape Natural Abalone Pearl
I was abalone diving over at Fort Bragg area last Thanksgiving weekend for a last abalone dive of the year before season's closed. It was rainy and stormy ...
Abalone pearl a little smaller than a golf ball.
About five years ago diving off of the Sonoma County coast I got an abalone pearl that had a cracked shell. When I popped the abalone out of the shell ...
Abalone Pearl
My mate and I got a few paua and when we were shelling them came across this abalone pearl.
North Coast Abalone Pearl
After 24 years of diving I just scored my 2nd really nice abalone pearl. Went to Ocean Cove this last weekend for a meat dive with some friends. Sunday ...
PURE NATURAL BEAUTIFUL ABALONE PEARL
I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SMOOTH AND ALMOST FLAWLESS MAGENTA,BLUE,GREEN AND METALLIC NATURAL ABALONE PEARL. MY HUSBAND'S BEEN A DIVER FOR 25 YEARS AND ABOUT THREE ...
Surprise Abalone Pearl...
I've been diving for Abalone for close to 30 years. I never really paid attention to the Abalone pearls until the other day. I was cleaning my catch ...
Abalone Pearl Pendant for Sale
My friend at the abalone farm told me that this pearl had formed in the gonad area of the abalone, which accounted for its fine luster and large size. The ...
Unusual flat abalone pearl
This large pendant abalone pearl is attached to a 1/2 oz solid 14 kt gold jewel clasp. Custom designed by my dive buddy, Randy Shores, an accomplished ...
My Collection of Rare Abalone Pearls
The small ones came from the same abalone taken from a cove outside Elk, California. When abalone pearls are put into jewelry, God and man come together ...
One of a kind on Earth, 52kt abalone pearl
I have been abalone pearl diving for 25 years and I have found some great abalone pearls. Nothing close to this rare huge pearl. This one was probably ...
Abalone Pearl
My husband went diving last week and got a 10", a 10-1/8", and a 10-3/8". All of them were legal sideways.
Old Red Abalone Pearl
This pearl came from a Red Abalone found near Cayucos, California and is over 100 years old. It was willed to my grandfather by the granddaughter of Capt....
Celestial Sky -- Large Abalone Pearl
I was diving with a buddy around 30 feet off of the coast of Fort Bragg, CA. This baby popped out of the ab as I was shucking him.... This pearl came out ...
10 Year Abalone Pearl Collection for Sale
Hi, noticed that you like pearls.
This is my personal collection of 10 years, all from the Australian blacked lipped abalone. Processing 120 tone a ...
Beautiful Large Abalone Pearl 64 Carat
Rare Find
Very beautifully formed
Very large abalone Pearl
12.8 grams 64 Carat
Exceptional luster throughout
Found By Novice Abalone Diver
Location:...
Western Australian Green Lip Abalone
Well, I found this abalone pearl about 6 years ago, as i was a professional diver in the south west. Out of over 20 tonne of the shell fish that was collected ...
Large 50 Carat Abalone Pearl
I have recently found an abalone pearl that is as big as a quails egg it has been weighed at 50.15 karats. It is unpolished an original to how I found ...
Round & Black Abalone Pearl
What do you think is the value of a near round, quarter inch diameter, jet black abalone pearl? Attached is a photo. I am not much into jewelry and am ...
Abalone Pearl
My grandpa pulled a pearl from an abalone twenty-six years ago. It measurements are 37mm long by 23mm wide and it is really beautiful to look at. I was ...
2 Inch Abalone Pearl
I was abalone diving last year. I had one abalone, when I suffered a massive stroke. My 82 yr old dad assisted me, called 911, and one yr later I am ...
Pearl Inside a Pearl
My father became a commercial abalone diver in 1949 up in Avila Beach. I grew up in the industry and have had, thanks to my Dad, some amazing stories....
Big Daddy Abalone Pearl
I'm wondering how many of you would be interested in seeing or buying 400 carat abalone pearl from northern California.
Big Daddy Abalone Pearl
Big ...
Abalone Pearl Looks like a Whale
I found this pearl in the sand adjacent to an abalone bed.
I have found abalone pearls before by feeling the gonad and stomach sacs after shucking. But ...
Wild Red Abalone Pearl
This is a close to perfectly formed Wild Red Abalone Pearl found off the coast of Northern California. It is over 4 inches long, and 2-1/4 ...
Vince Vabri's Abalone Pearl
This pearl was collected by my late father-in-law in Northern California in the 1940's while free diving for Abalone. Any idea as to it's value?
Natural Abalone Pearls Found While Diving
Early in 2007 I went abalone diving around Fort Bragg, California, with some friends. I have been doing it for years and have always heard about the pearls ...
35 carat abalone pearl
Not rated yet
I have a 7 gram (35 carat) natural abalone pearl, This has been in the family for some time, but now it is time for someone else to enjoy. Times are tough ...
