This pearl is being sold with certificate as Melo Melo. But not convinced. What do you think?
- Thread starter Ilianap
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Per seller: an antique Melo Melo that has never been taken out of the case attached to Liulab. I requested a closer look and outside of the case in natural light. Simply cannot determine if this is what they are selling.
On the other hand, this other seller is selling a yellow Melo Melo with GIA Certificate. I attached the pictures.
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SteveM
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The first pearl is so obviously a piece of shell that it made me doubt whether you were showing it to expose the seller, or if he was exposing himself. Liulab does not appear to be specialized in pearls, although Vietnam is certainly a habitat for Baler shell. Natural pearl traders quickly acquire the available gem-quality pearls, so what else would the locals do with all those shells?
New object: It may well be a melo pearl, but a pretty washed out and medicocre one. Let's see the GIA certificate to see if they found it to be worked or shaped. Size would also be of interest. Are you just wanting some melo melo trophies regardless of their quality or are you looking for gems?
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lol. Yes the first one I thought the same, shell. I even thought of Cassis but not even that actually. I am not really interested on a high vallied Melo Melo, just that it is authentic (from the snail itself), with a small size to fit the ring project I am making. I finally received the conch one. I am just fascinated by natural rare pearls, or even some gems I have collected. I know the orange Melo’s are the most desirable, but actually if the pearl itself is a Melo Melo, the color is perfect for what I want Melo Yellow.
Thank you Steve for your help.
SteveM
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Keep in mind that at last count there are 13 Volutidae species, only one of which, the Indian Volute, is called 'Melo Melo'. Cassis Cornuta, Horned Helmet, coincides in the light orange and brick color range and can easily be confused. Finally, there is NO WAY to prove the species of a porcelaneous pearl other than to document finding one in the living mollusk itself. Educated guessing is all you have. The more education the better, obviously.
Here is an infamous photo of mine (infamous as it has been purloined from P-G by multiple sellers for their websites, usually as 'melo melo'), of a small and perfect Cassis pearl. Also, a very nice ring from Bangkok featuring a small Melo (whether Melo Melo, not known) button pearl. On your yellow Melo (rhymes!), you don't mention the size, but hopefully the opposing face to the side with the missing bit of outer layer will allow for the defect to be hidden in the setting. As with the conch, we look forward to seeing your design.
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I had no idea
As always thank you.
Will post Conch ring when I get it done .
that is a lovely ring. The left side Cassi, the Tridacna pearl also resembles in flames as the Cassi. The size of the Melo Yellow, seller has been out of the country and said he would respond by this past Saturday. He did not, so giving him till Thursday. If no reply I will let it go and move on. Though it a good deal for 2.4K including GIA cert.
As always thank you.
Will post Conch ring when I get it done .
SteveM
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Yes, Tridacna flames often present in the same manner. How are you judging the value of that Yellow Melo if you do not know its size?
It is 9.8 mm. I wanted a small pearl, and by the weight I figured it would be small. He is sending a certificate with it, but I may just as well run it over to GIA here in Miami. They charge $150.00. But at least I will know more about it, other than size, shape, color, and that it is from Myanmar
SteveM
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Not such a small pearl for a ring, in fact about as big as you'd want. I'm beginning to like the pearl and its possibilities a bit more! Didn't you say seller's cert is GIA? No need for another one. You'll want to match size to cert and see whether it says 'no evidence of shaping' or other such language. Species is just a guess and generally they will just say 'gastropod'.
He asked for $300.00 for the GIA, but I can get it for half of that. What he is providing is from a government approved lab in Thailand. This is included in the $2.400 I paid
The mystery of the fake Melo Melo ring that was sent from India is solved. It was tiger shell. It was an absurd attempt to pass as Melo Melo. I saw a video on how to make one from resin that resembled more a Melo Melo than that insane creation. He assured me it was Melo Melo as he was a former GIA agent. Two lies in the making. If you are or were a connoisseur of Non Nacreous pearls, particularly Melo Melo, Tiger Shell would not have been a good option, or any attempt to replicate one for that matter. I get the hardship in the country, but to scam so candidly is no excuse. Period!
SteveM
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Well, take a look at that cert before going to GIA, it may be sufficient for your purposes.
SteveM
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Can you post another picture here in this thread? I'm not sure I saw that ring. Melo Melo is uniquely subject to fraud given the headlines obtained by the most perfect large specimens. They are priceless.
I wonder if he got to keep his badge?
I still have a pic of it. But the color is different on the item I received.
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The top one is the one he sent me. I uploaded when received but sent two of same by mistake. Even in the photo it shows orange/ yelowis, but actual item is more tan/brownish
I sent the thing back to him and it arrived in India. Currently still there as seller could not pay the fee to retrieve. They attempted his shop/home but he was not there. I am not only passionate about pearls and rare gems, I am also curious, and just had to find out what the heck that was. I also did some Utubing on the city he is from, and realized the struggle is real.
I will continue on this thread with update on conch ring and the Melo Yellow (lol) pearl. I had not realized it could all be on one thread. I also have some so called Tahitian pearls that I dread posting in case they are not lol
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