Conch Pearls

“Hold this shell to your ear, and you’ll hear the ocean.” When children follow those instructions, the shell they’re holding is probably a conch.

Conchs are saltwater gastropods. They are univalve mollusks that, like all snails, have the ability to withdraw their soft bodies into their shells. A conch shell is shaped like a spiral cone with a large lip that flattens past the opening.

Although non-nacreous natural pearls occur in several conch species, the queen conch (Strombus gigas) is the most frequent source. Its sole habitats are the Caribbean Sea and a small adjacent area of the Atlantic Ocean.

Natural pearls are found when conchs are harvested for food, but they’re very rare. Common estimates are that one pearl is found for every 10,000 conchs collected. Of those, few are of large size and good quality, making those rare specimens unusually valuable.

Conch pearls are usually small and rarely spherical. Most are ovals or irregular shapes, with longer dimensions almost always under 10 mm. Symmetry is an important determination of value, with color ranking a close second. Colors include pink, yellow, brown, and white. Pinks usually command the highest prices, but brownish yellow (“golden”) colors are also valuable. Flame structure is a common feature of conch pearls. When it's prominent, it increases value.