Incredible Melo Melo Pearl, or, The Pearl That Ate New York City!

[GemGeek]

Yesterday I was at The Collector/Pala International in Fallbrook, California and asked Bill Larson if I could see any Melo Melos they had. Woo Hoo!

First of all, this is the largest Melo I've ever seen in person. Secondly, of the Melos I've seen, I've never seen such a pronounced flame pattern.

The big surprise was that the flames were chatoyant, or had a movable sheen to them. Absolutely unbelievable.









If you are keen to learn more and see more photos on Pala's website, click these links. There is a cool photo of a living melo "snail" in the second link.
http://www.palagems.com/melo_myanmar.htm
http://www.palagems.com/melo.htm

 

[pattye]

Blaire,
Fabulous photos, and links! Do you recall the size and ct of this large one? Did Octavia talk you into taking it home with you??? Thanks very much!!!

 

[claudenancy]

Wow! Really spectacular.

 

[Heidi]

Thank you for such great photos, Blaire! I have always wondered if Melo Melo pearls are chatoyant. Now I know this one is, at the very least.

 

[GemGeek]

Thanks! I forgot to get the details on the weight, but it's something like an inch long. If it were round, it would fit nicely in Octavia's mouth. It would have been great to bring Octavia and get a photo, but she can be unpredictable...

 

[J Marcus]

An inch?!?!?! Truly amazing! Stunning doesn't begin to cover it--It must have been wonderful to see it in person. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[MistofCassiopeia]

Awesome! Thanks for the links. Another article to put into my book.

 

[laurenb]

Gorgeous-- it's exactly the color of butterscotch amber, but the chatoyance is unlike anything I've seen from a naturally occurring bead or gem.

 

[GemGeek]

Gorgeous-- it's exactly the color of butterscotch amber, but the chatoyance is unlike anything I've seen from a naturally occurring bead or gem.

Yes! If I hadn't been able to handle it, I wouldn't have been able to appreciate it as much. I'm glad that the photos show how luscious it was. <sigh>

By the way, the Pala International web site is one of the best learning sites for gemstones and minerals. Especially recommended for gem-geeks!

 

[Amrita]

Amazing! Thanks for the spectacular photos, GemGeek!

 

[john675]

I can't really add anything but will reiterate the comments of spectacular, amazing, and stunning. I have never seen anything like that. I'm not sure what you could make out of it, but I bet somebody would come up with something impressive. Thanks so much for the links as well - I'm learning something new today!
John

 

[Nerida]

Oh, my.... this is amazing. GemGeek thank you for the links, the photos etc. Never imagined the snail to be that large, nor the surface of the pearls to be so unique. And I learnt a new word, too... thanks for "chatoyance"...

 

[GemGeek]

In the hands of the right jeweler, I think it could be an amazing pendant on a very long chain on a very tall person!

 

[pattye]

I'm not sure what you could make out of it, but I bet somebody would come up with something impressive.

Blaire, were you thinking Sheri also!!???

 

[GemGeek]

Yeah, I almost mentioned red hair and swan-like neck. I had to restrain myself and you still knew what I was thinking!

 

[CLICLASP]

Believe it or not , I am the happy owner of the 10,28 carats one shown on pala page
http://www.palagems.com/melo_myanmar.htm

I got it not directly from Pala, but I guess they got it before and featured it on their page.
the chatoyancy is not as outstanding, but the irregular pattern is really attractive,
see it here again
http://www.cliclasp.com/general_interest/natural-pearls.html

I enjoy it everytime I look at it ...

You might like to know that there was a very beautiful one set by Tiffany, can be seen in the blue book of 2/3 years ago.

And some more pict of melo melo on that thread :
https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/natural-pearls/2530-melo-melo-necklace-sold-sothebys.html

 

[Nerida]

Blaire, were you thinking Sheri also!!???

Weren't we all??

And Cliclasp.... truly? You own that beautiful thing? Lucky lucky you..

 

[CLICLASP]

Here is the Tiffany one, I was referring to, in the 2006 Blue book issue,
it says :

79 carats with yellow and colorless diamonds, so elegant, so perfect...

 

[CLICLASP]

And Cliclasp.... truly? You own that beautiful thing? Lucky lucky you..

You know what's very funny, is the shell I took in pict. with the pearl,
http://www.cliclasp.com/general_interest/natural-pearls.html
I bought it years before in Portugal to a shell seller, it looked so nice, and I only discovered years later, it was a melo melo shell.

 

[Nerida]

well, I am completely in love/lust for the Tiffany piece. That is exquisite.