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Rare Natural Saltwater Pearl image 1
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Lot 307Y

Rare Natural Saltwater Pearl

7 December 2016, 10:00 PST
Los Angeles

US$20,000 - US$30,000

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Rare Natural Saltwater Pearl

Turban snail
Astraea undosa
Sea of Cortez, near Baja California

A large, nacreous pearl from the saltwater mollusk known as the "Turban" snail, so dubbed due to the conical shape of its shell. Found in the waters of the Gulf of California, it is graceful and feminine in form. This extremely rare pearl has lavender, pink and green iridescence and high luster. Weighing approximately 21.64 carats and measuring 19.88 x 17.94 x 9.76mm

Footnotes

To our knowledge, only two other Turban snail pearls have been offered at public auction. Both were featured in Natural History auctions at Bonhams: lot 1336, Auction 21032, May 2013 and lot 1231, Auction 21649, May 2014.

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