Owner of a Melo Melo?

[Mello_Plumber]

Hi everyone

I am new to this forum, seeking advice from connoisseurs. Sunday i purchased in a flea market a little "orange egg". Not so long ago i have just read about Melo Melo pears. This egg resembles to be very much a Melo pearl. I can surely say that isn't stone since it doesn't get colder like stones do. I have a presidium II gem tester and while pin pointing the egg, its reading a very shy garnet which does match the 5 on Mohs scale.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

How large is it?

That last photo does look like it has a flame pattern. And according to this article a Melo pearl would be 5 on the Moh hardness scale. But from what I read garnet is 6.5-7 on the Moh scale.
http://www.palagems.com/melo-myanmar

Could it be a dyed quartz egg? Quartz is a 7.

 

[SteveM]

The straight lines in the bottom photo indicate shell to me.

 

[Mello_Plumber]

How large is it?

That last photo does look like it has a flame pattern. And according to this article a Melo pearl would be 5 on the Moh hardness scale. But from what I read garnet is 6.5-7 on the Moh scale.
http://www.palagems.com/melo-myanmar

Could it be a dyed quartz egg? Quartz is a 7.

It wont be QUARTZ. The machine I have would show it. The hardnes is matching identically to a snail shell I have .

 

[Mello_Plumber]

And a view under ultraviolet.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Let's take a more structured approach

First, is it organic or mineral?
I am not sure what you mean by "I can surely say that isn't stone since it doesn't get colder like stones do. " Could you elaborate, please? Also, how are you testing hardness?

Can you measure RI? How much does it weigh?

The ultraviolet image speaks against both melo melo and garnet. Garnet is inert and the literature puts melo fluorescence at blue or orange.

Let's assume it checks out as organic

Is it a pearl or is it shell?
You may find these articles interesting:
https://www.ssef.ch/wp-content/uplo...hell_bead_as_an_imitation_of_a_Melo_pearl.pdf
https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research/imitation-melo-pearl

For me, the main evidence against it being a melo melo pearl is the size. Every reference source and auction record I found puts the top at the size range at a little over 30 mm. At 40mm, that is huge. Christie's describes a 31mm by 32mm melo as the second largest recorded, for comparison.

And, as Smetzler points out, the straight growth lines point towards shell, not pearl.

Next Steps
If, at this point, you think it is a melo pearl, send it to a reputable gem lab and get a report. If it is a real, untreated melo pearl, it is probably worth serious money based on your images. If it is polished shell, not really.

 

[Mello_Plumber]

Let's take a more structured approach

First, is it organic or mineral?
I am not sure what you mean by "I can surely say that isn't stone since it doesn't get colder like stones do. " Could you elaborate, please? Also, how are you testing hardness?

Can you measure RI? How much does it weigh?

The ultraviolet image speaks against both melo melo and garnet. Garnet is inert and the literature puts melo fluorescence at blue or orange.

Let's assume it checks out as organic

Is it a pearl or is it shell?
You may find these articles interesting:
https://www.ssef.ch/wp-content/uplo...hell_bead_as_an_imitation_of_a_Melo_pearl.pdf
https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research/imitation-melo-pearl

For me, the main evidence against it being a melo melo pearl is the size. Every reference source and auction record I found puts the top at the size range at a little over 30 mm. At 40mm, that is huge. Christie's describes a 31mm by 32mm melo as the second largest recorded, for comparison.

And, as Smetzler points out, the straight growth lines point towards shell, not pearl.

Next Steps
If, at this point, you think it is a melo pearl, send it to a reputable gem lab and get a report. If it is a real, untreated melo pearl, it is probably worth serious money based on your images. If it is polished shell, not really.

First off, sry for my English skills and shortness of the info I provide. To respond;

- I can't distinguish between organic and mineral, I don't have the experience. Knowing that Melo's hardness is suppose to be 5 on Moht scale, i looked at other minerals I have on my presidium Gem tester closer to this range. In fact a regular pearls necklace I have, shows to be of the same hardness. This is a foolish act since this type of tester isn't designed for organics but minerals only

- i don't own a refractometer. I have one that can only measure saltwater.

- Reading online in an article cited above i saw the following characteristic attributed to Melo; "Fluorescence Under Ultraviolet Light – Variable, mostly chalky blue or orange."

Precisely has 39 mm length, nearly 27 width, 42 grams
If i pick up a stone i can tell right away just based on how cold it is. This one is different.
It also has a gritty texture when rubbed against my teeth but not as much like other pearls.

I will have to find a gem lab in my area. I just though I can establish first whether there is a possibility to be Melo or i can discredit this option through some observations other experiences users on this forum could make. I wish there were other specific tests I could do on this thing.

Thanks for everyone's input

 

[Khoirul Anam]

Melo melo asli alami