Dear Eve,
I have been searching everywhere and would like to know if you can help me determine something about 2 pearls I have. They were found about 30 feet under ground while doing construction work, around the lower N.C. coast. Neither have drill holes as these were found in the soil. I am unsure who or where to go about getting a value estimate. I have done the grit test, warming in my hand. Now I am lost as to where I should go. I am estimating they are around 9-10 MM each.
I have attached a photo for you to see.
Thanks in advance for any info you have for me. 9/15/2007.
This is a picture of the "pearls"
Eve replies: I would take them to an appraiser. They look perfectly round, but i can't tell from the photo what the surface is really like. I see some surface sheen, rather than the subsurface luster a pearl normally has, however some freshwater pearls may have a surface sheen too. I wonder how near the coast you found them? By the beach, or a former beach? It is doubtful, though, that two matching pearls would founder onto a beach, so I am thinking that they might have been buried for safekeeping by someone - a bad idea because acidity in soil can damage pearls.
Or they were lost a long time ago, although cultured pearls of that size date from no earlier than the 80's. Or they are not pearls, but shell beads. They do look a little too round in the photo, since cultured pearls are often not totally round, a little more earth-shaped. An appraiser who knows pearls will be able to give you much more information if they can actually see the pearls. I sent the image to Richard "Bo" Torrey, Editor of PEARL WORLD, and he comments as follows: Seriously, they don’t look very “pearly.” Why do people think anything that is spherical, hard, shiny and small is a pearl? Why doesn’t the woman send them to someone for examination?"
When you do find out, would you let us know? This is an intriguing find!
Thank you
Eve J. Alfille
The Pearl Society
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