[J Marcus]

Greetings,

Do any of you know or have at least a passably informed opinion on what characteristics merit a pearl being named? I'm particularly interested in blister/mabe' pearls--especially since a mabe' cannot be measured by weight, having been filled with an artificial substance and backed by something other than the original shell. I haven't been able to find much information on the subject.

Regards,

J Marcus
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

[GemGeek]

I'm not sure what you mean by being named. Like La Peregrina? Or named by type?

Just to clarify - natural blister pearls should be cleaned out from the back and filled or they may break with an impact. Cultured blister pearls have a firm insert that can stay in place. Cultured mabes are the same with the insert removed and replaced with resin and backed with MOP.

Although a pendant isn't likely to face a sharp impact, it can happen. If the natural blisters formed over gasseous or spongy matter, they may be hollow, or partially hollow and it's possible that they are very thin at the top.

Does that help, or am I telling you what you already know?

Cheers,
Blaire

[Valeria101]

Assuming that the question is about individual peal names...

There are two named mabes somewhere on this forum: huge, perfect, cultured abalone mabes. For those, naming was obviously motivated by size and quality.

Not sure I can remember of any natural blister pearl with a name, but some of the natural pearls with names were attached to the shell and have the marks to prove that.

Whatever shape the pearl is, as long as the size and quality makes it very desirable and close to irreplaceable... 'can't imagine any reason not to name it...

What does the pearl look like?

[J Marcus]

I'm concerned with the naming of individual pearls. Thanks for your efforts GemGeek but actually, I've been processing mabe's for some time now.

To Valeria101--Thanks for the information about the two named cultured mabe's. I'll have to look those up. The blister pearl in question is one that is approximately 1.25 inches (32mm) X 1 inch (25+mm) with a height of about 5/8 inches (16+mm)--kinda like a walnut! It's the largest single abalone blister I've seen or read of, but I'm not so sure that's all that good a basis for judging.

Although it's the largest single abalone blister I've seen, I do have some clusters of multiple blisters grown together that are larger--a couple, in fact, that rather dwarf it. I really have no idea about what to think about them. I'm still working on them, too. I'm taking it slow because I want to do them justice.

I'm thinking that if I name it, it's name will be the "Cascadia Moon." I'm located in NW Washington under Mt. Baker in the Cascade range.

Thanks for the replies. Any other opinions out there?

Regards,

J Marcus
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com/home.html

[GemGeek]

It's definitely a romantic idea to name your pearls. Romance sells!