Conch Pearls

Conch Pearls

Conch Pearls Defined

A Conch Pearl is a non-nacreous, calcareous concretion produced primarily by the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas). Conch pearls often exhibit a flame-like pattern due to concentrically arranged calcium carbonate plateles in a lamellar fasion.

Conch Pearls, The Pearl That’s Not Really A Pearl, in the Technical Sense

Conch pearls (pronounced "konk") contain no nacre, so technically they are not actually pearls at all. Instead, the gems are calcareous concretions, similar to kidney stones in humans. They are produced by the Queen conch mollusk (Strombus gigas), which lives primarily in the Caribbean near southern Florida.

Conch Pearls Are A Very Rare Occurrence

No one has yet devised a method for culturing conch pearls, so every one you see will be a natural pearl. Therefore, they are extremely rare and valuable. It is estimated that only one in 10,000 conchs produces a pearl, and that less than 10 percent of those are of gem quality.

Conch Pearls Are Nature’s Surprise

Since the meat of the Queen conch is prized as food, it is generally harvested by fishermen, rather than being sought for its pearls. The pearls tend to be "by-products" of the harvest, discovered by the fishermen as they clean their catch.

Conch Pearls, Small But Pretty In Pink

Conch pearls are usually small in size -- 3 millimeters or less -- and baroque or oval in shape. Their colors are generally pink, yellow, brown, white, or golden. Pink (or a salmon-colored orange-pink) is generally the most sought-after color, while white and brown are relatively rare.

Conch Pearls Have A Flame Structure

In addition to its striking colors, the conch pearl often has another important surface feature called a "flame structure," which is a unique pattern in the coloration. The flame structure generally appears in the pink or white-pink pearls, although the other colors sometimes also exhibit it.

Be Careful, The Color Of Conch Pearls Can Fade

An important fact to remember, if you are considering purchasing a conch pearl, is that its colors tend to fade significantly over time. Experts are not completely sure why, although sunlight is often cited as at least one factor in the fading. Thus, it's recommended that conch pearls be worn primarily in the evening and not exposed to excessive sunlight.

Finding Pairs Of Conch Pearls Is Extremely Rare

Since conch pearls are naturally both rare and unique, finding matching pearls for sets, earrings, strands, etc. is extremely difficult, thus significantly increasing both the cost and the value of such sets.