LaPearlite™ a new organic gemstone discovered in the waters of South Louisiana by New Orleans gemologist Anne Dale. LaPearlite is derived from the organic shell of the Crassostrea virginica (American Oyster) becoming the Official Louisiana State Gemstone signed into law by Governor Bobby Jindal on August 15, 2011. From the purist of whites to a [...]

Saturday, July 02, 2011 By Times-Picayune Staff The Times-Picayune Gov. Bobby Jindal has blessed a plan to create a new state gemstone, the cabochon cut gemstone derived from a special Louisiana-grown oyster — the Crassostrea virginica mollusk. Jindal recently signed into law House Bill 246 by Rep. Scott Simon, R-Abita Springs, dislodging the agate, “as [...]

by Richard Alan Hannon | Capitol News Bureau Republican state Sen. Jack Donahue, of Mandeville, holds Monday a box of specialty-cut oyster shells. The Louisiana Senate gave final approval, on a 29-7 vote, to a bill that would make the “cabochon-cut” of the eastern oyster, the variety found off Louisiana’s shore, as the state’s new [...]

By Ed Anderson BATON ROUGE — The Senate on Monday sent Gov. Bobby Jindal legislation to designate a specially cut oyster shell found in Louisiana waters as the state’s official gemstone. On a 29-7 vote, senators approved House Bill 246 by Rep. Scott Simon, R-Abita Springs, dislodging the agate as the state’s  gemstone.  Simon’s bill names the agate as the state’s official mineral. Simon’s bill names [...]

BATON ROUGE — A Senate committee oohed and ahhed Wednesday over samples of specially cut oyster shell jewelry then voted without opposition to make it the state’s official gemstone. The Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs unanimously approved and sent to the Senate floor House Bill 246 by Rep. Scott Simon, R-Abita Springs. The bill [...]

Louisiana oyster (Crassostrea virginica) shells may be bumping the agate as the state’s official gemstone. But all would not be lost for agate found in Louisiana gravel, a legislative committee decided Wednesday. It would be the state’s newly designated official mineral. The House Judiciary Committee approved House Bill 246 by Rep. Scott Simon, R-Abita Springs, [...]

From Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board A bill is working its way through the Louisiana legislature to change the state’s official gemstone from agate to a newly discovered gem material derived from Louisiana oyster shells, called LaPearlite. LaPearlite in a ring. State representative Scott Simon of Abita Springs, La., says the new gemstone would [...]

Gemologist at Heart On Saturday, April 16th, in Mandeville was the official launch party for a new gemstone LaPearlite. On hand at Anne Dale Jeweller to celebrate LaPearlite’s debut were friends, family, clients, public figures as well as Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Broad director’s Ewell Smith, Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler, Louisiana Agriculture [...]

Tuscon, AZ – New Orleans based jeweler and gemologist Anne Dale introduces a newly discovered gem material derived from the American Oyster. Gemstone experts from around the world enthusiastically examined the new find at the 2011 Tuscon Gem and Mineral Show, with one of the first finished stones being presented to Dr. Jeffery Post and [...]

Unlike other shell material used in jewelry, New Orleans jeweler Anne Dale is able to cut LaPearlite into a cabochon gemstone. Others shells, including the Pinctada maxima, Pinctada margaritifera and univalue Haliotis (abalone and paua), are fashioned into decorative jewelry; however, they lack the ability to be cut into a cabochon polished gemstone. Most often [...]