Pearl or shell?

[kentee]

Can someone please help me identify if this is a pearl or a shell?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

It's a shell with blister pearls. Pearls are cultured this way-- a form is attached to the inside of the shell, and the oyster is returned to the water. The oyster then lays down nacre over the form.

At harvest, the shell can be cut away a small distance from the pearl and sold as a blister pearl with shell around it. like this:

Alternatively, the shell can be cut away right around the pearl, and the shell and form removed, leaving just the nacre, which is hollow, like a cup. The nacre is then filled, and a mother-of-pearl backing is placed over the back to cover it. These are sold as mabe pearls.

A mabe earring:

Mother of pearl back of a Tahitian mabe pendant

 

[CortezPearls]

You got an excellent introduction by @Pearl Dreams !
If interested, we have a complete educational thread on Mabe pearls HERE

 

[Pearl Dreams]

That is a fabulous thread-- so many informative pages and photos. I had not seen it before. Off to read it....

 

[CortezPearls]

That is a fabulous thread-- so many informative pages and photos. I had not seen it before. Off to read it....

Hope you like it!
I wrote dozens of articles for Pearl Guide just a couple of years ago, when Jeremy decided it was time to revamp the site!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Clearly it's time for me to explore the site more.