San Angelo’s Concho Pearl Featured on The Texas Bucket List

SAN ANGELO, TX - The rare Concho Pearl, a natural pink-hued gem primarily found in the rivers and lakes of West Texas, including the Concho River near San Angelo, was featured on The Texas Bucket List.

The show highlighted Legend Jewelers, a downtown San Angelo business known for crafting jewelry from the pearls.

Mark Priest, owner of Legend Jewelers, discussed the pearl’s history and rarity, explaining that it forms inside freshwater mussels native to the region.

“The Concho Pearl in Texas, to me, represents a gemstone found in an area that’s just the least likely place it should be,” Priest said to the Texas Bucket List. 

The segment detailed the natural beauty and scarcity of the pearls, which range in shades from pink to lavender. Unlike traditional white pearls, these are found in certain freshwater mussels that inhabit Texas waterways. According to Priest, the Concho Pearl is among the rarer pearls produced in North America.

However, the pearls are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Priest noted that Texas halted new freshwater mussel-harvesting licenses 14 years ago, restricting the collection of mussels from state waterways.

Legend Jewelers, which has been in business since 1976, continues to create jewelry incorporating Concho Pearls, along with mother of pearl and shell inlays.