Buy Quahog Pearls Here!Quahog pearls for sale    Quahog Ring by inch ruler Weight: 14.67 carats Need help help deciding? Read more about Bob's pearl.
Price: $1,133 The above antique quahog pearl, dating from the 1910s to 1930s, was found in the estate of a Pacific Northwest jeweler. The handwritten label that will accompany it states "A Real Pearl in Natural Form," along with the name of the jeweler. Lilac and mauve shades combine to form a beautiful color on the base and sides of the pearl. It is topped by a well-formed cream bullseye. This pearl is superbly ROUND, but perfectly stable sitting on its flat bottom. It measures approximately 8.5mm in diameter, and 7.5mm in height, and weighs exactly 4 carats. There is a fine hairline under the surface of the pearl, which does not compromise its structure. It is the type of hairline you might find on old porcelain, and is not a crack through the pearl. You need close inspection with really sharp eyes (or magnification) and a light source to see this. The hairline crosses the base (where it is most evident--much finer on the side of the pearl) and travels halfway up the pearl on one side and then meanders to the left. It does not encircle the pearl. The quahog pearl photo here was taken with a macro lens, which provides a gruesomely magnified view. Given the flat base and round form of this pearl, it would look wonderful set in a ring! Since this is a true antique, "as-is" quahog pearl that I cannot call flawless, it is being offered at an exceptional price!!
This pearl is round, and slightly flat on bottom. The color is a deep lavender with a cream color on the bottom. It has high luster with no flaws. It is in its natural state and has not been cooked.
This pearl is perfectly round and shaped like a M & M. The color is more of a light mauve and cream. Has a high luster with no flaws. Its in its natural state and has not been cooked.
This pearl is also round with more of a flat bottom. It has a distinct design on the top which we call a bulls eye. The color is a deep lavender and cream. It has high luster with no flaws. It is in its natural state and has not been cooked. History of above three pearls is as follows. I am from the Eastern Shore of Virginia near the Chesapeake Bay. My father was a clammer most of his adult life, as were most of the men in my family. Years ago after my father passed away my step-mother gave me these three quahog pearls and said that my father found them while shucking chowder clams over the years, he kept them because the were flawless and beautiful. My father was a waterman for about 50 years, the fact that he only found three quahogs of gem quality attests to how rare these pearl actually are. John Piper has this to say.... Quahogs are pronounced “ko hog”, and are clams which many of us have enjoyed in a variety of dishes, or simply steamed at an oyster bar or restaurant. They are native to the Eastern US coast, especially around New England, and have been exported to the Pacific and European shores as they lend themselves to “aquaculture”. Indeed, in New England they form an important part of the fishing economy and are a major export from the region. It is thought that only 1 in 5,000 clams produces a pearl but, before a pearl can be considered valuable, it also must possess visual appeal – many pearls are misshapen, or not particularly pretty to look at, which precludes their use in jewelery. This makes those pearls which are suitable for use in jewelry that much more valuable. Despite the huge commercial farming activity which processes millions of quahog clams every year, pearls are increasingly rare because of the automated nature of the process. Clams are cleaned and shucked mechanically, and this process typically destroys any pearls which may otherwise be uncovered. More quahog pearls that have been found. Go to main natural pearl catalog page.
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