Pearls of Wisdom about the Concho Pearl

Pearls are very unique compared to other gemstones.  It is the only gem that is grown inside a living creature and the oldest known to man.

The “CONCHO PEARL” can only be found in the freshwater rivers and lakes surrounding San Angelo, Texas.  It is produced by a distinctive muscle(clam) known as the TAMPICO PEARLY Mollusk.  Concho Pearls can range in color from purple, lavender and pinks to even orange.

History

The story began in 1650 when explorers Hernan Martin and Diego Castillo arrived in West Texas near what is now the city of San Angelo.  Finding a river filled with shells, the Spaniards appropriately named the river “El Rio Concho” (Shell River).  The Spanish were so enamored by the pearls found in the Concho River that in 1654 another Spaniard, Diego De Guadalajara, was sent to the area to enlist the local Indians to harvest more pearls.  It is also believed that the Spanish Crown Jewels may contain actual Concho Pearls.

So what makes Concho Pearls so rare?  95% of all the pearls in the world today are cultured and only 5% are created naturally.  The Concho River is one of the few places in the world where you can find natural pearls.  This makes the Concho Pearl much more unique than cultured pearls, but the Concho Pearl is also more unique than most natural pearls due to its color and beauty!

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When you give a CONCHO PEARL to a loved one you are giving a part of San Angelo’s history while also presenting your loved one with the very finest that nature can provide. You can see pearls everywhere today, but there is nothing as glamorous as wearing a real Concho Pearl.  Indeed, our very own Concho Pearl is a significant statement of perfection, beauty, affluence, and elegance.

The JEWELRY DOCTOR has one of the largest selections of Concho Pearls in the world.  We have many loose and mounted pearls in a variety of gold and sterling silver settings including rings, necklaces, pendants, tie-tacks, brooches, and earrings.

Tags: Concho Pearl Earrings, Concho Pearl Necklaces, Concho Pearl Rings, Concho Pearl Pendants, Concho Pearl Tie Tack, Natural Pearls, Tampico Pearly Mollusk, Pink Pearl, Purple Pearl, Lavender Pearl, Orange Pearl, Multicolor Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, River Pearl, San Angelo, Concho River, West Texas Pearls.

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