Delicious Abalone (Source Network)
Abalone mollusk is the primitive group of Gastropoda, Protobranchia, Gastropoda and Concha of Abalone family, and is known as "soft gold" in the ocean. This is because it is a high-protein and low-fat food, which is very beneficial to the human body.
In addition, abalone shells are bright in color, and after cleaning and polishing, they can show brighter luster, so they are used for jewelry processing.
Abalone and Abalone Beads (source VA)
Abalone shells are common, but abalone beads are very rare and precious. There are about 90- 100 species of abalone in the world, but only 8 species of abalone beads can be collected, and the discovery rate is about one in 250 thousand. In addition to the scarcity of abalone beads, abalone beads are difficult to obtain because of their long growth cycle and harsh growth conditions.
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Formation process of abalone
The formation mechanism of abalone is very similar to that of pearl. When foreign matter enters the abalone and cannot be digested, it will stimulate the defense mechanism of abalone, thus secreting layers of nacre, which will form pearls over time.
Abalone (Figure Source Network)
Usually abalone beads will appear in the form of "beads attached to the back", that is, attached to the shell of abalone. Most abalone beads are irregular, with horns or shark teeth, and only a few are round.
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Gemmological characteristics of abalone
The color of abalone is close to the color of abalone shell, and its surface can present several or even colorful interference colors. Its main components are calcium carbonate, keratin and so on. There are some pits and spots on the surface and many concentric ring structures inside.
Three unique abalone pearls and a typical12mm golden pearl cultured in the South China Sea (image source GIA).
The optical characteristics are pearl luster, usually bronze or even mirror luster, and the colors are gorgeous and rich, which can be blue, green, purple, rose and silver. This is because abalone beads have bright halo effect, which makes their colors change constantly at different angles.
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Design of abalone
Because of the irregular shape of abalone pearls, it is difficult to embed them in jewelry by conventional methods. Therefore, they need unique and innovative designs to make them conform to the shape of pearls. Jewelry often made of abalone pearls is very creative.
Designer PaulaCrevoshay's series of works in the Garden of Light, pearls are abalone beads (source network)
Designer PaulaCrevoshay's series of works in the Garden of Light, pearls are abalone beads (source network)
Bowfish Beads Designed by Designer PaulaCrevoshay (Source Network)
Abalone diamond and emerald brooch, from Sotheby's Jewelry 2009 important jewelry auction in new york (source network)
Buccellati's golden swordfish brooch and abalone pearls (source network)
Pearl Earclip (Source: Christie's official website)
Buccellati's golden butterfly brooch and abalone pearls (source network)
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Abalone culture
Because abalone has hemophilia, it is extremely difficult to breed abalone beads. If they nucleate like shellfish that breed pearls, abalone will bleed to death.
/kloc-At the end of 0/9, French scientist Louis Butan successfully cultivated abalone shell pearls and free pearls by using Bao Bei in Europe. Because these Bao Bei are easy to be killed once they are harmed by the outside world, it is very difficult to cultivate Bao Bei pearls and pearls with shells.
Abalone pearls cultured in New Zealand (reference 1 screenshot)
It was not until 1980s that the commercial cultivation of abalone, shellfish and pearls was successful. A large number of shell pearls are cultivated in Bao Bei. 1997, the first batch of commercial production, 6000 shell pearls with a diameter of 9-20mm were harvested, and the free pearls were gradually commercialized. (Organic gemstone, Li Geng)
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Abalone beads are a gift from nature. Through the skillful hands of human beings, they also bloom like blooming flowers. Abalone is delicious, and its beads are beautiful. I wonder if we are so lucky. Next time you eat abalone, you can eat delicious and authentic.
involve
1Y。 Wentzell( 1998), cultured abalone soaked with pearls is produced in Cheryl, New Zealand. gemology
[2] Li Geng, an organic gem.
[3] Xu Hui, Tang Zongjie, Yao Yanming (200 1), identification characteristics of abalone beads.