How much is a Concho Pearl Worth?

Out of the murky waters of the Concho River comes the legendary Concho Pearl, a rarity that is valued for its shimmery pink and purple hue. Mark Priest’s Legend Jewelers uses the pearls to create a unique piece of jewelry for each customer. Stop in and see Texas pearls worth over $250,000.

Can you find pearls in Texas?

Lesser-known sources of natural freshwater pearls are the Colorado River and Brazos River and their tributaries in the state of Texas. However, the best samples are sometimes found in a species named Tampico Pearlymussel (Cyrtonaias tampicoensis) that inhabits the Concho River in West Texas.

Where can I find Concho Pearls?

Concho pearls are beautiful natural freshwater pearls, found inside the opalescent Tampico mussel shells at the bottom of rivers and lakes near San Angelo, Texas.

Where do you find freshwater pearls?

So when hunting for freshwater pearls, you only need to walk along areas of the river….Dive for pearls.

  1. Check for mussels in shallow water.
  2. Many fisherman use waders to wade into the river and gather mussels.
  3. In lakes, you can employ similar methods of feeling for mussels, but you may need basic diving equipment.

Do Texas oysters have pearls?

Several pearls may occur in one oyster. A world record has not been established, but a Galveston Bay oyster containing 356 pearls must be a leading contender. Growth of oysters in Texas waters is relatively fast and occurs throughout the year.

Where is the Concho River?

The Concho River, formed in San Angelo by the confluence of its North and South Forks, flows 24 miles through Tom Green County, then 29 miles through Concho County where it joins the Colorado River 12 miles northeast of Paint Rock. The river flows predominantly through rolling hills and semi-arid ranch and farm land.

Are pearls from mussels worth anything?

Again, valuable pearls were discovered, several selling for over one thousand dollars. But the cost to the mussel fauna was incalculable. Several species were doomed to extinction after this pearl craze ran its course. The potential held within each mussel has a darker side for the pearl seeker.

How do you tell if a freshwater mussel has a pearl?

Older parts of the shell often appear corroded, an identifying feature of this mussel species. The inner surface of the shell is pearl white, sometimes tinged with attractive iridescent colours.