Your Details
Please fill in your email address
Please fill in a password
By Gavin Clarke
Reviewed By Andreas Zabczyk
Conch Pearls, the Flamed Pink Queens![]() Pink Conch Pearl
Many are familiar with South Sea pearls, freshwater pearls, and Mikimoto pearls, which are mainly sourced from oysters and mussels. Due to the rarity and high cost of natural pearls, pearl culturing techniques have been developed to make these exquisite gemstones more accessible. While naturally occurring pearls from oysters are rare, there are even rarer and more valuable pearls that command exceptionally high prices. Rare conch pearls (also pronounced "conk", with the plural "conchs", sounding like "honks"), or "pink pearls" come from conches. A conch is a type of sea snail that has a beautiful spiral-shaped shell. Unlike oysters, it is a gastropod (meaning "stomach foot") with a single shell, rather than a bivalve with two hinged shell parts. Conch shells are often sold as tourist souvenirs in tropical countries such as the Bahamas. The shells are also prized for the sound that they make when pierced and then blown through, as demonstrated by the boys in the novel by William Golding, and movie, "Lord of the Flies". In Victorian times, conch shells were used for the carving of cameos. Conch pearls became popular later, during King Edward's reign and can be seen in some Art Nouveau jewelry pieces. Recently, conch pearls have become popular once again, and have been seen in high jewelry designs. The conch itself is eaten in some countries. A perfect, pink pearl at the end of a plate of conch salad would be a delightful surprise! Strombus Gigas (Queen Conch) ShellConch pearls are harvested from several types of marine gastropod, including the queen conch. The queen conch comes from tropical waters in the region of the Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. It has the scientific name Strombus gigas and can live for up to 40 years. The queen conch lives in fairly shallow waters of no deeper than around 20 meters. This means that it can be easily harvested. In fact, these creatures have been in decline due to overfishing. Thus, the queen conch is now a threatened species. The fishing of queen conches is regulated in several countries and it is now illegal to harvest the queen conch off the coast of Florida. Conch pearls are highly valued for their beautiful color, symmetry, porcellaneous (porcelain-like) luster and attractive oval shape, though they can also occur in baroque (irregular) shapes. The most desirable shape for conch pearls is oval. Some purists argue that conch pearls should not be referred to as "pearls" because they do not exhibit the luster of conventional material from oysters or mussels. The CIBJO (the World Jewellery Confederation) defines conch pearls as "non-nacreous natural pearl consisting of calcium carbonate arranged concentrically in a crossed lamellar microarchitecture... also known as pink pearls". Conch pearls are best known for being pink, but also occur in white, brown and orange. White conch pearls are extremely rare, and golden yellow conch pearls are known as "golden pearls". The hardness of conch pearls is higher than that of traditional oyster pearls and conch pearls are considered to have a good level of durability. However, like some other gemstones, the color of conch pearls is known to fade after prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, so they are not recommended for everyday jewelry wear. ![]() White Gold and Diamond Conch Pearl Necklace Pendant
The surface of some conch pearls has a distinctive pattern and slight iridescence which makes them easily identifiable. This pattern can sometimes be easily seen with the naked eye (see, top image). This is termed "flame structure" and is the result of microcrystalline fibers that are partially aligned. A clearly visible flame pattern is most desirable. For hundreds of years, it was not possible to culture conch pearls, so these rare gems remain unattainable treasures for most people. This has caused the emergence of some ingenious imitations, such as glass, coral and pieces of shell. The buyer must be careful to avoid such materials. American scientific journals have reported the successful development of cultured queen conch pearls by the Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI). This opens up the possibility for the commercial production of cultured conch pearls. Moreover, Dr Héctor Acosta-Salmón and Dr Megan Davis managed to produce cultured pink pearls without sacrificing the life of the queen conch in the process. Perhaps this means that one day in the future, cultured conch pearl gemstones will be available to jewelry lovers all over the world, allowing everybody to enjoy the beauty of pink pearls.
About Us
Overall Rating -> 10 I really liked the email, and the link that help return me to the site. I didnt have access to my card info while checking out and I had to put my phone away so I lost the tab. Fortunately, since I did give an email- they sent me a link that brought me back to where I was. Greatly appreciated Posted By Jag in January, 2025 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 10 Everything went well, the payment options are easily declined but, but once sorted out, everything is smooth. I have bought from GemSelect before and am consistently satisfied with them. Posted By Gabe in August, 2024 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 8 Excellent selection of stones -including ones I had never heard of before -nice site and fairly easy to use Posted By DrD in May, 2025 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 10 excellent deals-excellent service-fair prices Posted By JD in April, 2025 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 10 I like the site, it's easy to navigate. There are sometimes items I'm looking for that aren't there, but mostly I can find what I need. Posted By Nate in March, 2025 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 10 Good shopping experience. Website is relatively easy to use. Prices are good. Posted By Bleep in August, 2024 Source: Bizrate Related Articles The World's Rarest Gemstone The World's Rarest Gemstone - Say hello to the Red Diamond Types of Gem Settings Types of Settings for Gemstones - Gem Settings Pink Kunzite Pink Kunzite - Perfect for a large cocktail ring Heliodor or Golden Beryl Heliodor or Golden Beryl: A Complete Guide Gems of the Rich and Famous Gemstones of the Rich and Famous La Peregrina Pearl La Pergrina - The fascinating Story of the Wandering Pearl The Pearls of America The Pearls of America - a curious source of these precious gems Mikimoto Kokichi Mikimoto Kokichi - Legendary Jeweler and Inventor of Cultured Pearls Costume and Fashion Jewelry Costume and Fashion Gemstone Jewelry Information: GemSelect Buying Pink Gems for Jewelry Buying Pink Gemstones for Jewelry Engagement Ring Choices Engagement Ring Choices Bridal Jewelry Worldwide Bridal Jewelry Around the World Tennis Bracelets History and Guide to Buying Tennis Bracelets Oldest Jewelry in the World The Oldest Jewelry in the World Art Nouveau Jewelry Art Nouveau Jewelry; Nature Against the Machine Phenomenal Gemstone Stars Famous Jewels: Phenomenal Gemstone Stars King Tut's Tomb of Treasures King Tutankhamun's Tomb of Treasures Abalone Pearl Information Abalone Pearls; Rare Iridescent Treasures of the Sea |
STAY IN TOUCH | NEWSLETTER |
*You're signing up to receive GemSelect promotional email. |
Switch to Mobile Version
Copyright © 2005-2025 GemSelect.com all rights reserved.
Reproduction (text or graphics) without the express written consent of GemSelect.com (SETT Company Ltd.) is strictly prohibited.
2560
Please wait the page is loading!
|