Mercenaria mercenaria
Northern Quahog clam species
Coastal waters of the North Atlantic
Described by Linnaeus in 1758, the quahog pearl does not come from an oyster but rather a thick-shelled edible member of the clam family. It is estimated that only 1 in 100,000 Quahog clams actually produce a pearl of any kind. Before its use in jewelry the Quahog was used as the nation's first domestic currency. The Wampanoag tribe used a medium of exchange called wampum which consisted of beads made of the shell of the Quahog bi-valves. This exotic pearl was discovered by its owner during the 1950s and was mounted in a crown-form 14K yellow gold ring setting. The bouton-shaped or "dome" shaped pearl possesses a rich, deep lilac hue at the apex graduating in tone toward a base which displays a pleasant cream color. The luster of its porcellaneous surface is excellent. Pearls of this species are infrequently seen in such a large size, especially with such a fantastic luster.
Pearl measures 14.6 x 14.6 x 10.1 mm or 14.47 carats by estimation