Rare Lavender Pearl Found In Seafood Stew Sells At Kaminski Auctions
The six-plus carat pearl is a rare non-nacreous pearl from the Mercenaria Mercenaria mollusk. The occurrence of a gem quality stone in a quahog is estimated to be only one in two million. Rare quahog pearls are mostly found by accident during home processing or consumption.
The pearl was accompanied with a GIA pearl certificate and described in the report as a " Natural undrilled Quahog saltwater pearl, 11.43-by-8.36-mm, 6.22 carats, from a Northern Quahog clam with GIA report "no indications of treatment" and "natural light purple." Quahog pearls are one of the most precious in the world. Being the only saltwater purple pearl of any significant size, quahog pearls are non-nacreous, having a hard, smooth, lustrous finish."
The pearl was appraised by Kaminski Auctions senior appraiser Harry Morgan at $12,000-$15,000. It sold for $16,500 including buyer's premium and ultimately ended up with a Japanese collector through a U.S. pearl broker.
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