![]() ![]() According to the technical definition of "true pearls," pearls that produce nacre, a complex organic-inorganic substance, that is responsible for their luster and iridescence, are the only pearls that could be characterized as "true pearls." Pearls produced by pearl oysters and freshwater mussels come under this category. Susan Hendrickson's Conch Pearls are extremely rare natural pearls produced by the sea-snail Strombus gigas, whose natural home is the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Conch pearls are natural non-nacreous pearls produced by the sea-snail Strombus gigas (queen conch) found in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico Thus the Susan Hendrickson's conch pearls undoubtedly qualify to be categorized under famous pearls on account of their extraordinary size, color and shape. The usual shape of conch pearls is either baroque or oval, and both Susan Hendrickson's pearls conform to the latter shape, even though one of them is somewhat spherical. White and brown colors are relatively rare in conch pearls. The pearls also have the characteristic flicker across their surfaces, known as the "flame structure." Besides pink, conch pearls can also have other colors such as yellow, brown, white and golden. ![]() Both pearls have a deep-pink color which is the most sought after color in conch pearls. The larger conch pearl weighs 22.4 carats, equivalent to 89.6 grains and the smaller one 17.9 carats, equivalent to 71.6 grains. The two large conch pearls belonging to Susan Hendrickson's collection of conch pearls are extremely rare specimens given the fact that the average size of a conch pearl is less than 3 mm and average weight less than 1 carat (4 grains). Susan Hendrickson's Conch Pearls Characteristics of the Susan Hendrickson's Conch Pearls Weight, color, shape and flame structure of the conch pearls Besides their striking colors conch pearls, especially the pink and the whitish-pink colored pearls, have a unique feature known as a "flame structure," a spectacular chatoyancy effect that appears on the surface of the pearl, as if a fire is burning on the surface. The most sought after color in conch pearls is a salmon-colored orange-pink. The variety of colors in which conch pearls exist are pink, yellow, brown, white and golden. Only one in ten thousand queen conches can yield a conch pearl, out of which only about 10% are of gem quality. ![]() Susan Hendrickson has now gone into partnership with the renowned Geneva-based jewelry maker Georges Ruiz, to turnout conch pearl jewelry, which they believe would be the most popular pearl of the future, given the natural provenance of the pearl, their extreme rarity, and the array of colors in which they are found. The conch pearls were actually a by product of this thriving queen conch fishery. She purchased the pearls from the queen conch fisherman of the Caribbean, who harvested them primarily for their meat which became a popular delicacy. Susan Hendrickson had been a connoisseur and collector of conch pearls for almost two decades. The name refers to two extraordinarily large conch pearls weighing 22.4 carats and 17.9 carats, given on loan to the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution by Susan Hendrickson, the marine archaeologist and collector of conch pearls, to be exhibited at the "Allure of Pearls" Exhibition, held between March 18 and September 5, 2005, and co-sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America, Paspaley Pearls Pty. Open FREE Unlimited Store Join Our Newsletter Origin of name ![]()
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