Pearls from unusual sources, Conch, Quahog, Abalone and others.

Contrary to popular opinion, oysters are not the only mollusk that produces pearls. Pearls are produced by quite a number of differet mollusks. All mollusks can produce pearls. But, generally speaking the mollusks that are sedentary are more likely to produce pearls. So other bivalves( a mollusk with two shell halves or "valves" is a bi-valve) that can produce pearls are the mussels, which account for the freshwater pearls we all are familiar with. A very rare pearl is one from the hard shelled clam or quahog, supposedly a very beautiful blue to purple pearl.

 Pearls are  also produced by the mobile side of the family, the snails and their brothers. Abalone, conchs and whelks also make pearls. The pearls from the snails are not as common; because, of the animal's mobility tending to dislodge the foreign object that could become a pearl. Conchs do produce pearls that can be quite beautiful. Conch pearls are somewhat rare. You need to search 15,000 conchs to produce one pearl. It is for this reason, and that they can be very beautiful that, accounts for their being very valuable. If you have ever seen an abalone shell then you have an idea of how an abalone pearl looks. Shimmering blues, greens and pinks. Because of the beauty of these pearls almost everyone has been attempted to be cultivated. All having pretty limited success.

Although all the other mollusks do produce pearls, most are not very attractive or large, and if you ever eaten a blue mussel and almost broken a tooth, then you will agree that most pearls by other mollusks are not desireable. Still there are some like the flame pattern of the conh pearl and the wild and beautiful colors of the abalone that really do compliment the pearls of the oysters and pearl producing mussels.