LorenLL
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2024
- Messages
- 10
Hello all, I am new to buying/collecting pearls and I would like to ask for your help and advice on purchasing Mabe pearls.
Recently I stumbled upon some very high quality Mabe pearls made from Mabe-gai (P. penguin). They have the purest cornflower blue or white, high dome with flawless mirror-like surface, and vibrant, colourful iridescence resembling rainbow or aurora. According to the shop owner, such high quality Mabe pearls are very rare nowadays, especially the white ones.
Those pearls are certainly a thing of beauty, but I am torn about actually buying one. On one hand I collect pearls for fun (nowhere near professional or wealthy enough to start a serious collection though) and my brain is nagging me not to pass up on such excellent pieces; on the other hand my gut feeling tells me they are not unique/"exciting" enough (ngl they look almost like fake half-pearls with iridescent electroplating, although considering that the shop also sell various types of high quality real pearls, I doubt they would sell fake Mabes), and I would probably end up with a piece that gives me a vague, mind-boggled feel instead of joy.
Funnily enough, I find lower quality Mabes, like those with ripple-like sub-surface lustre and pale silvery-blue colour, more attractive; their imperfect surface breaks up the iridescence into irregular waves not unlike the "fire" in a piece of opal, and the pale colour makes the iridescence stands out (in addition, they don't look as dark when worn as a pendant or earrings).
Could you give some advice on this matter? The brain and the gut, which organ should I trust? Or do I just didn't know the beauty of good Mabe-gai Mabe pearls? (I used to be like this for golden South Sea, until I saw how gold-like good ones are...and now I am chasing "the one true gold"
)
Recently I stumbled upon some very high quality Mabe pearls made from Mabe-gai (P. penguin). They have the purest cornflower blue or white, high dome with flawless mirror-like surface, and vibrant, colourful iridescence resembling rainbow or aurora. According to the shop owner, such high quality Mabe pearls are very rare nowadays, especially the white ones.
Those pearls are certainly a thing of beauty, but I am torn about actually buying one. On one hand I collect pearls for fun (nowhere near professional or wealthy enough to start a serious collection though) and my brain is nagging me not to pass up on such excellent pieces; on the other hand my gut feeling tells me they are not unique/"exciting" enough (ngl they look almost like fake half-pearls with iridescent electroplating, although considering that the shop also sell various types of high quality real pearls, I doubt they would sell fake Mabes), and I would probably end up with a piece that gives me a vague, mind-boggled feel instead of joy.
Funnily enough, I find lower quality Mabes, like those with ripple-like sub-surface lustre and pale silvery-blue colour, more attractive; their imperfect surface breaks up the iridescence into irregular waves not unlike the "fire" in a piece of opal, and the pale colour makes the iridescence stands out (in addition, they don't look as dark when worn as a pendant or earrings).
Could you give some advice on this matter? The brain and the gut, which organ should I trust? Or do I just didn't know the beauty of good Mabe-gai Mabe pearls? (I used to be like this for golden South Sea, until I saw how gold-like good ones are...and now I am chasing "the one true gold"
)
It knows only logic but logic doesn't bring you joy. I lost count many years ago of the number of times I've bought something because my brain was telling me it was a really good price - for something I didn't really need or want. If information about the quality or a discount is what makes us decide I claim that you should not buy. Pearls have poor resale value so you are buying for you - not as an investment. I'm with you on the mabe, by the way. If they are too perfect I feel they look fake.
