01 August 2024

What is this?


Posted at the Jewelry subreddit with the question as to whether this item found on a seashore could be a pearl.  The discussion thread has not yet produced a definitive answer.

Addendum:  A tip of the blogging cap to reader Bob, who delved deep into the extended comments to find evidence that this is "plastic purge" (melted plastic), perhaps from a beach campfire or a fire on a boat.

7 comments:

  1. I'd guess a hunk of spermaceti.
    xoxoxoBruce

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  2. Looks like a teacher’s Mount Wrigley…

    Bicycle Rider

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  3. Ambergris? It seems too large though.

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  4. Twice in the comments the person who posted it says it is plastic. They used a hot needle which melted it and smelled like burning plastic. (same test used to determine if a piece is genuine Bakelite.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Bob. I found those comments today in the extended thread.

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    2. Easy to miss, it was a tough job going through that thread but somebody had to do it! ;-)

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