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PURPLE CLAM SHELL OWL with RUBY EYES CARVING & 18K GOLD VERMEIL over STERLING SILVER
Item #	:	183 16233
Type of carving	:	Purple Clam shell three-dimensional carving pendant (amulet / charm)
Design	:	Ornate OWL DESIGN ~ 3-dimentional carving in exceptional fine details.
Material	:	Natural Purple Clam shell and 18K Gold Vermeil over genuine solid Sterling Silver ~ 18K gold-plated 3-microns. The eyes are inlayed bezel-set red Ruby gemstones.
Gemstone	:	Two genuine natural red Ruby gemstones ~ round 1.8 mm diameter, brilliant cut in excellent quality with just minor natural inclusions (si) ~ from Mozambique / Africa. The pair of red Ruby gemstones are bezel-set in 18K Gold Vermeil over solid genuine 925 Sterling Silver.
Plating	:	Very thick and durable ~ 3-microns 18K yellow Gold Vermeil over solid 925 Sterling Silver
Amount	:	1 (one) individual piece * All photos are taken from the actual item *
Weight	:	approx. 4.66 grams
Size	:	Length: approx. 36.34 mm = 1.43 inches Width: approx. 10.79 mm Depth: approx. 9.13 mm All measurements are taken at the widest points
Bail	:	The bail inside measurement is 7.90 x 6.90 mm and will fit a chain, rope or cord with a diameter of 6.80 mm and smaller. The cord shown in the photos is for display only and is not included.
Origin	:	Hand-carved by Balinese master-craftsmen The silverwork is handmade by out in-house master silversmiths.
Color	:	Purple Clam shell, red Ruby gemstones and Gold
Quality	:	New and excellent
Treatment	:	None ~ 100 % natural shell which is hand-carved and polished
Hand-crafted	:	This jewelry is made using ancient traditional techniques. Each piece is handmade and is not a machine mass produced item. Each piece, silver parts and carvings are made one by one which make each piece a one-of-a-kind.
Hallmark stamp	:	This amulet pendant is hallmark stamped 925.
Purple Clam shell	:	Purple Clam Shell ~ Nuttallia obscurata, the purple mahogany clam, dark mahogany clam, varnish clam or savory clam, is a species of saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Psammobiidae. The valves are thin, relatively shallow, and almost oval in shape. They can reach 6.4 cm (2.5 inches) long. Individuals can achieve a maximum weight of 45 grams. The exterior of the valves is covered in a shiny brown periostracum, hence one of its common names, "varnish clam". The periostracum is often worn away at the umbo. There are concentric rings on the outside of the valves which can be observed where the periostracum has been removed. The interior of the valves is deep purple to almost white in some individuals. The prominent hinge ligament is external to the valves. Nuttallia obscurata has a large white, muscular foot that it uses to dig in the sand and for propulsion. The animal has two long, white, separate siphons. These clams are found in the mid to high intertidal zone, buried in sand, gravel, or silt, from just below the surface to 20 centimetres (7.9 inches) deep. They have greater tolerance for salinity conditions than native clams and are sometimes found in brackish waters near freshwater seeps. The species is native to Japan, Korea, China, and Indonesia. It has been naturalized in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. Its range includes the coast of Vancouver Island, the Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound, and south along the coast to Coos Bay. It is considered an invasive species in North America. The first collection of Nuttallia obscurata in North America occurred in 1991 near Vancouver. It is hypothesized that planktonic larvae were released by a ship disposing of ballast water she had pumped aboard in Asia. A 2006 study of reproductive ecology and dispersal potential suggested that a "lengthy planktonic phase, combined with favourable oceanographic circulation patterns, has contributed to the rapid dispersal and geographic range expansion of the varnish clam in the Northeast Pacific." By 1998, the species had reached Washington beaches. Where they find suitable habitat, these clams can reach densities of as high as 800 individuals per square meter. Nuttallia obscurata can live at least six years. They begin life as free-swimming plankton. This planktonic stage can last from 3 to 8 weeks before they settle to the bottom as recognizable clams. They become reproductively mature at one year old. This species is protandrous, where the young forms are male and then become female later in life. In each population, there are males and females in approximately equal numbers, and 4-5% of the population is hermaphroditic. In some populations, the sex ratio skews towards males for reasons that are not known. Females have been observed to produce between 40,000 and 6,000,000 eggs during the summer breeding season. These oocytes are 55 micrometres (0.0022 inches) in diameter. Fertilization takes place by broadcast spawning. Nuttallia obscurata has two methods of feeding. It is a filter feeder, drawing water in with one siphon and straining out algae and other nutrients. It then ejects water and waste from its other siphon. This species also has the ability to gather material from the surrounding sand with its foot, sweeping detritus to its mouth.
Origin	:	We buy all our shell material from the pearl farms (aqua culture) off the coast of the Island of Sumbawa. This shell carving is handcrafted in Bali (Indonesia) by our in-house Balinese shell carvers.
What is Gold Vermeil?	:	VERMEIL, which is pronounced "vehr-MAY," is 925 Sterling Silver with is plated with Gold. Vermeil is a combination of Sterling Silver and Gold commonly used as a component in jewelry. A typical example is Sterling Silver coated with 18K or 24K Gold. To be considered VERMEIL, the gold must be at least 10 karats (42%) and be at least 2.5 micrometers thick. In the US and various other countries, Sterling Silver covered first with a base metal (such as nickel) and then plated with Gold cannot be sold as vermeil without disclosing that it contains base metal. The word "VERMEIL" is a French word which came into use in the English language, mostly in America, in the 19th century as an alternative for the usual term silver-gilt. Vermeil can be produced by either fire-gilding or electrolysis. The original fire-gilding process was developed in France in the mid-18th century; however, France later banned the production of vermeil because over time artisans developed blindness due to mercury involved in the process. Today, VERMEIL is produced by electrolysis which is much safer than fire gilding yet produces a very similar result The White House has a collection of vermeil tableware kept on display (when not in use) in the Vermeil Room. The Code of Federal Regulations 16, Part 23.5 defines Vermeil: "An industry product may be described or marked as 'vermeil' if it consists of a base of Sterling Silver coated or plated on all significant surfaces with Gold or Gold alloy of not less than 10 karat fineness, that is of substantial thickness and a minimum thickness throughout equivalent to two and one half (2 ½) microns (or approximately 1/10000ths of an inch) of fine Gold." Less than 2.5 microns is NOT Vermeil and is considered as simple Gold plating only. Vermeil Jewelry Vermeil is a more expensive version of Gold plated jewelry. It consists of a 925 Sterling Silver base that is coated or plated with Gold. And again, if the longest lifespan is in the first place for you, your option is VERMEIL Vermeil is much more durable than simple very thin gold plating. No wonder that the price is also high. Gold plated jewelry Gold plating is the term used to describe the process of plating jewelry made of either precious (silver) or non-precious base metal (zinc, nickel, copper) with a thin layer of gold, which is depositing by electrochemical methods. As it was said the layer is very thin and thus easy to scratch. It also naturally wears thin with time, exposing the metal below.
Remarks	:	This Mother-of-Pearl, gemstones & 18K Gold Vermeil over solid 925 Sterling Silver pendant is absolutely marvelous and made with exceptional detail. The condition is new and excellent. Don’t miss this opportunity to own this beautiful charm pendant

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