March 17, 2026 Program Meeting Starts at 7:00 p.m.
A 112-carat abalone pearl was found in Sonoma County, California in 1990 by the late Wes Rankin. After the pearl was appraised at $144,000 by John Latendresse, Wes decided to go into the natural pearl business and started the Pacific Coast Pearls company. Abalone fishing has been illegal in California since 2018, in order to save the dwindling population of abalone. However, it is still allowed in Baja California, Mexico during non-spawning months. Besides briefly discussing natural pearls from California and Mexico, Renée’s PowerPoint presentation will also include other topics such as:
- The American pearl rush
- The highest priced pearls
- South Sea pearls that resemble Chinese freshwater baroque pearls and how to distinguish them
- How Australia became the first country to produce cultured saltwater round pearls
- How pearl oysters improve our atmosphere and the oceans.
And more.
Renee Newman GG (GIA) is the author of 16 books on jewelry and gems. Her interest in pearls developed when she was an international tour director and visited Japan, China, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and French Polynesia. After obtaining her GG from GIA, she became a gemologist and jewelry control manager for the Josam Diamond Trading Corporation in downtown Los Angeles. Even though their focus was on diamonds, they realized that mounting diamonds with colored gems and pearls gave them a wider variety of jewelry to sell and higher profit margins. Armed with trade experience and gemological credentials, Newman decided to create books that helped readers visually evaluate the quality of gems. Since 1989, she has written fourteen books on gems and jewelry. Her latest book is Pearls: Their History, Sources, Types & Qualities. The books will be available for sale at the meeting for a discounted price. Bring cash or check. For more information about Renée and her books go to http://www.reneenewman.com. You can connect with her on Instagram @reneenewmangg and Facebook at www.facebook.com/renee.newman.
This program meeting takes place at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of The Santa Anita Church, 226 W. Colorado Blvd., Arcadia, CA 91007, on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Come join us! Doors open at 6:30, admission is free; open to the public. Enjoy refreshments while checking out the display table; bring a rock specimen you’d like identified. Buy a raffle ticket for a few bucks and try your luck at winning a cool rock specimen, slab, or otherwise. We hope to see you there!