Events & AwardsJun 06, 2025
Here Are the 2025 Retailer Hall of Fame InducteesThis year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
AuctionsDec 08, 2016
Quahog Pearl Fails to Sell at Bonhams
The 16.64-carat purple pearl was expected to sell for up to $35,000 Wednesday and lead the Lapidary Works of Art, Gemstones and Minerals auction.
Expected to sell for up to $35,000 at Bonhams on Wednesday, this 16.64-carat non-nacreous Quahog pearl failed to meet its reserve price.
Los Angeles--A large purple Quahog pearl found by a Boston man shucking clams for dinner failed to sell at auction Wednesday.
The 16.64-carat non-nacreous pearl was expected to lead the Bonhams Lapidary Works of Art, Gemstones and Minerals auction in Los Angeles, with a pre-sale estimate of $25,000 to $35,000 (though the auction house first said the high would be $30,000, they later amended that.) But, it failed to meet its reserve price when it was on the auction block.
A man from Boston found the pearl when he was shucking Little Neck clams for dinner that he bought for $25.
RELATED CONTENT: 27-Carat Diamond Fails to Sell at Sotheby’s NY
Another Top Lot Fails to Sell, This Time at Sotheby’s HK
Rather than coming from an oyster, Quahog pearls come from thick-shelled North American “chowder” clams.
It’s estimated that only one in 100,000 Quahog clams actually produce a pearl of any kind and when they do, most are too unattractive to be used in jewelry. Very few have ever come up in public auction.
Bonhams described this one as having a near-spherical to button shape, rich lavender hue and excellent porcelaneous luster.
A few other stones that Bonhams highlighted ahead of the sale also failed to sell, including a rare, large yellow star sapphire weighing 75.43 carats expected to garner up to $80,000, and one of the largest tanzanite crystals in existence at 7.5 inches high and 4,015 carats, which had a pre-sale estimate of between $200,000 and $300,000.
The top lot of the sale ended up being a large gold nugget weighing 18.18 ounces that garnered $52,500.
A few of the other top lots were a large fossil of a palm from the Green River Formation of southwest Wyoming, which sold for $37,500, and a pair of demantoid garnets from the Ural Mountains in Russia. The transparent green rectangular cushion brilliant-cut garnets weighing approximately 2.68 carats and 2.43 carats sold for $33,750.
There also was a nephrite jade table on a custom forged iron stand, weighing 26 tons, by Ken Williams that went for $31,250, and a “superb” green beryl weighing 104.59 carats that went for $20,000. Bonhams called the stone “an exceptional example” of green beryl in terms of both its size and strength of hue, with a leaf-green color shown to its best advantage through the cut, clarity and luster.
For the full list of results, visit Bonhams.com.
More on Auctions
The Latest
CollectionsJun 06, 2025
Piece of the Week: Harwell Godfrey’s ‘Granny Squares Eleanor’ Necklace As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
The 12 Fresh Faces in Couture’s Design AtelierDiscover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.
Brought to you by
The True Power Behind the Counter: Why Sales Associates Are the Heart of the Jewelry BusinessWhen investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.
SourcingJun 05, 2025
A Rare Suite of Rubies Has Arrived in Las VegasThe “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.
Weekly QuizJun 05, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Daymond John to Give Keynote at JCK Las VegasThe entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.
MajorsJun 05, 2025
Platinum Guild International Updates Leadership TeamTwo existing executives have been given new roles.
Brought to you by
Clienteling Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s an Essential Business Model.More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Zillion Announces 'Women in STEM' Scholarship RecipientMeredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.
Lab-GrownJun 04, 2025
GIA Reverting to More General Terminology for Lab-Grown DiamondsIt will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”
Events & AwardsJun 04, 2025
As JCK Talks Returns, Don’t Miss These 12 SessionsFrom design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.
CrimeJun 04, 2025
10 Safety Tips for the Las Vegas Shows The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.
MajorsJun 04, 2025
Amy Curran Promoted at Hill & Co.Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.
CollectionsJun 03, 2025
In Her Latest Collection, Viviana Langhoff Is Leaning Into GoldThe designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.
FinancialsJun 03, 2025
Signet Jewelers Sees Turnaround in Q1 With Sales Ticking Up 2%On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.
SurveysJun 03, 2025
Consumer Confidence Improves in May The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.
CollectionsJun 03, 2025
Dakota Johnson Is Roberto Coin’s New Brand AmbassadorThe actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.
GradingJun 03, 2025
Mason-Kay Jade Adds ‘Fei Cui’ to Jade ReportsThe company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."
SourcingJun 02, 2025
Gemfields’ June Auction to Include 36-Carat RubyThe large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.
GradingJun 02, 2025
GSI Opens New Lab in Thailand Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.
TrendsJun 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Three Gems for June Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.
SourcingJun 02, 2025
David Allouche Joins Grandview Klein DiamondsThe diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.
FinancialsMay 30, 2025
Movado’s Q1 Sales Slip Amid ‘Challenging’ Retail Environment The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Tariffs & Designers: Navigating Pricing in an Unstable EnvironmentBetween tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.
CollectionsMay 30, 2025
Piece of the Week: Renato Cipullo’s ‘Hematite Blaze’ NecklaceDesigned by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Trade Court Declares Trump’s Tariffs InvalidHowever, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.
CollectionsMay 29, 2025
Britney Spears Files Trademark for New Jewelry LineThe pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.
