I almost ate a saltwater mussel pearl!

by Dave
(Salisbury, Md)

Saltwater Mussel Pearl

Saltwater Mussel Pearl

I got some mussels from Assateague Island and took them home. I steamed them and was eating them when I noticed that some of them were just a little crunchy. I assumed it was just a bit of sand and paid no attention to it. Then I bit down on a piece that was much larger and I thought it was a piece of shell so I got it back out of my mouth. It was mostly round and just a bit flattened on one side and it was similar in color to the mussel shell. I immediately knew that it was a pearl.

I have been unsuccessfully trying to find information on its value. Really, no one says much at all about salt water mussel pearls. All I've been able to find out is that they do exist and are 1mm - 3mm in size. Mine is about 3.5mm.

Comments for I almost ate a saltwater mussel pearl!

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Aug 10, 2024
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Coromandel mussel
by: James

Hi Mike just broke my tooth on a pearl that sounds similar to yours did you find any more information on it?
Aug 18, 2023
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Mine was stuck on the actual shell!
by: Anonymous

I also found a saltwater muscle pearl! But I wasn’t eating any I just found a shell of one on the beach only to see a shell attached to the inside half! I feel crazy lucky that it just happened to be sort of welded on so it didn’t wash away!
Jan 02, 2023
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pearls from Mussels
by: Anonymous

I grew up on coast of Maine, when I was little I use go spot near here that is full mussels thousands of them always has been. Anyway I found big pearl it was beautiful but everyone said perals only come from oysters. so thru it back and never thought twice. That whole area is still undeveloped and full mussles as always, I wonder if it would be profitable to harvest the pearls from them *humanly I believe there is way to harvest the pearl without hurting the animal I have heard it actually helped them to have it removed .
Aug 08, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Cape Cod Mussels
by: Joy

I have found two pearls so far in mussels here on Cape Cod. On is a very light pink/peach color and the other is gray. Very small and beautiful, hoping to find more and have a ring made.
May 16, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Looking for info
by: Mike

Hi I'm from New Zealand and recently ate a green lipped mussel, I nearly broke my tooth to discover some sort of perl. Its flat on one side and round on the other. Any info would be good thanks
Dec 30, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Loads of pearls in saltwater mussels
by: Anonymous

I am trying to find some information on pearls in saltwater mussels. We gathered some on the shore in Scotland and most had at least 1 small pearl, some had several. Everything I am reading says they are rare so its baffling that we found so many. Is there any way we can find out if they are worth anything?
Thanks.
Mar 04, 2019
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		What fun!
by: Kari

Hello,

What fun to find a natural pearl! Natural pearls are rare. Even if the value may be small, they are treasures to be happy about having!

Thanks for sharing.

You could put it into a little bottle and enjoy wearing it. Hobby Lobby sells some tiny bottles.

Just an idea.

God bless,
Kari
Oct 28, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pink saltwater muscle pearl
by: Anonymous

Collected about 3 dozen muscles off the rocks near San Francisco for steaming. The very last muscle eaten had a beautiful pink pearl in it about the size of a large pepper corn.
Been eating muscles all my life and this was a first.
Oct 29, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Email
by: Justin p

Hi Dave can you email me info on salt water mussel pearls.
juddyez@yahoo.co.nz
Oct 29, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Saltwater mussel pearls
by: Justin p

Hi Dave, we have had the same thing happen and found pearls in a mussel. Do you know the value
Jul 09, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		What is it worth?
by: Anonymous

Did you find out What it is Worth?
Nov 20, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pearl from RedLobster in Washington
by: Cassie

Hi, thank you for sharing, your pearl is beautiful. Tonight I had dinner at red lobster, I was eating some mussels when I noticed the same thing, at first I thought it was just sand then I bit down on something really hard I thought it was a piece of shell so I pulled it out of my mouth, and there it was a light pink almost white tiny tear drop shaped pearl, about the size of a red pepper seed. I've since been researching online all night trying to find out info about saltwater mussel pearls.

Cassie
Feb 17, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pearl Cultivation
by: Anonymous

Has anyone thought about pearl cultivation on the east coast of the US? Either in oysters, mussels or some other salt water mollusk? Many thanks. AlysonMy @ hotmail
Jul 21, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Nice pearl
by: Kari

Hi Dave, Thanks for sharing your pearl find. Glad you didn't swallow it! It has a wonderful deep color and shape.

Here is a photo of blue mussel pearls from New Brunswick. https://www.karipearls.com/salt-water-pearls-in-nb.html

And here is a blue mussel pearl from the Hudson Strait near the Arctic Circle in upper Quebec. This one was larger than usual.

https://www.karipearls.com/hudson-strait-pearl.html

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