Pearls and ponds

Suzanne and Zoe bought identical pearl pendants. When I asked about the pearl, Suzanne said, "It has spots of gold on it!" I said, "Oh, you found a pondslime pearl!". She said, "No, it is freshwater." We are both right. The pearl variety is Chinese freshwater, the shape is baroque, and the pearls has an additional rare characteristic. 

The name of that effect, coined many years ago by the virtuoso pearl dealer Fuji Voll (PacificPearls US), is admittedly singular: "pondslime". It makes me think of a snapping turtle wearing her new necklace. The surface of the pearl shows areas of greeny-gold, bronze and fawn; the colours occur naturally and are stable. 

The look is far more chic than the name! (Why not just "pond pearls"?) Once practically given away, pearl farmers now realize women have taken to the rich play of colours, so now they are priced at the same level as quality freshwaters. 

So let's get our pond on: the freshwater pearl on which this effect sits will be China freshwater or Japan Kasumi; the rare Japan Kasumis are more expensive. The base pearl should be lustrous; the pearl may have a rippled surface, like this Kojima bracelet of Japan Kasumis, or it can be smooth.

On a deeper-coloured pearl, the pond effect joins the base colour more subtly; on a blush pearl like the Kasumi just left of centre in the photo, it looks as if the pearl were dipped in gold leaf. The rest is is subjective; see whether you like the distribution of colour and the overall effect. 

In the window, pond pearls four ways:

Clockwise from top left:

1. An 18in. necklace of pebble-shaped keshi on white thread, with an orbit clasp, so you can easily slip on a pendant or charm. The pearls are around 12mm x10.5mm, and what presence that overlay of iridescent gold adds! Price, US $270 from Kojima Pearl.

2. A stacked keshi strand; here you see the tones shimmer on a 16in. (minus clasp) strand. I wear a similar rope (at least 17 years old), a delight. Price, $US 450 from PacificPearls US.

3. An 18in. strand of big (13mm-17mm) fireball baroques with stunning purple and rose overtones, and bronzy pond effects. Price, $US 360, also from PacificPearls US. This is a lavish pearl pop for the price.

4. A 12mm loose (drilled) Japan Kasumi pearl, a feast of colour, with overtones of bronze, pink, purple, apricot, blue, green—depending on the position and light. From the reputable and expert Ebay seller Carolyn Ehret, Druzy Design; price, $US 139. You can see some of the pond effect on the closeup. 

The finale is something fabulous, and such a deal!  This pearl is an ethereal example: rich, uniformly-evident colour on a ultra-lustrous coin pearl. The price is $US 45 for a lavish 34mm x 24mm undrilled piece (they will do it for you, and you can trust the Kojima team to know where that should be!) A fascinating pendant—or if you have pearls that need a zhuzh, you've found it!

And Kojima fans already know there is an alluring sale on now!

When I wear that keshi rope, women unaccustomed to pearls see its mauve, bronze and purple flashes, and ask, "What are those?" The girlfriend of a friend's son, though, said, "Ah, freshwater keshi with that amazing pondslime!" 

I was at least as pleased that a woman not yet thirty knew her pearls as I was to receive her compliment!