MABE or BLISTER PEARLS - Naturals versus Cultured run of the mill

[Bodecia]

Hi All,

Have a question that I hope you can help with. I generally do not like Mabe pearls but then there are Mabe Pearls and Mabe Pearls i.e. cultivated, low quality mabes versus what I believe to be natural Mabe or Blister pearls.

Is this a correct interpretation of mabes natural versus cultivated. Blister pearls are very interesting and have the same flat backs as mabes so, are they from the same oyster Pteria penguin or do they also come from other oysters and clams and if so which ones.

I am thinking that Mabe is a term used for Cultured and Blister is for natural pearls but I think these two names have become inter-twinned in recent years.

I have attached a couple of photos of Blister and a Natural Mabe pearls both claiming to be natural. From the look of them I do believe both to be natural.. I think both are beautiful but from which mollusks do they actually come from?

This has interested me for a long time and I would really appreciate some good information on Blister pearls etc.

I do realise that our pearl experts would know all about them but for most of us they, I believe, are somewhat of a mystery.

Dawn - Bodecia
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 - natural pearl collector and all round pearl lover.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Is this a correct interpretation of mabes natural versus cultivated. Blister pearls are very interesting and have the same flat backs as mabes so, are they from the same oyster Pteria penguin or do they also come from other oysters and clams and if so which ones.

Pteria penquin is commonly used for mabe pearls mainly because of it's anatomy, however mabe pearls have been created in most of the other Pinctada species and almost always in abalone.

I am thinking that Mabe is a term used for Cultured and Blister is for natural pearls but I think these two names have become inter-twinned in recent years.

Correct, because neither are scientific terms. As a rule of thumb, mabe pearls are cultured and blisters are natural.

I have attached a couple of photos of Blister and a Natural Mabe pearls both claiming to be natural. From the look of them I do believe both to be natural.. I think both are beautiful but from which mollusks do they actually come from?

The first photo appears to me as cultured. It's near perfectly round. A rear view would likely reveal a plastic or shell nuclei.

The second, by virtue of shape, might be natural. Again, viewing the back may reveal the nucleus.

Natural blisters are almost always caused by externally boring parasites and sometimes by other parastites finding their way between the valve and mantle epithelium and to a lesser degree, from shell damage.

While only a guess, the first appears to be Pteria and the second, undeterminable from the photo. Unless of course, the design style can be associated with the source.

 

[Bodecia]

The first photo appears to me as cultured. It's near perfectly round. A rear view would likely reveal a plastic or shell nuclei.

The second, by virtue of shape, might be natural. Again, viewing the back may reveal the nucleus.

Natural blisters are almost always caused by externally boring parasites and sometimes by other parastites finding their way between the valve and mantle epithelium and to a lesser degree, from shell damage.

While only a guess, the first appears to be Pteria and the second, undeterminable from the photo. Unless of course, the design style can be associated with the source.

Thanks Dave,

Great information for me. I don't have a photo of the back of the first one which as you said is likely cultured. Only reason I thought it might be a natural is because it has that slightly beaten metal look that some naturals have and the old setting but then although advertised as antique it is not that old. I do have a side on view so will include that. Might show although I do believe now that I have examined the photos it must be cultured.

On the second one which is a huge blister pearl I do have a good photo of the back which I am sure you will inform you. It is a a Victorian 18kt gold, Georgian revivak style brooch. The blister pearl is 19mm x 24mm wide so a beaut side. The brooch itself measures 48mm x 41mm.

Would love further thoughts on what type of mollusk it has come from.

Dawn - Bodecia
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 - natural pearl collector and all round pearl lover.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

As with baroques, it's quite easy to visualize symetrical nuclei. The other image is of a Tahitian mabe, which appears alike.

On the brooch, there is no apparent geometry and the six surrounding pearls also present with natural features. One cannot glean enough information from these photos alone, but this piece does warrant greater investigation.