[smetzler]

Stunningl! I did notice this beautiful piece on first viewing your site.

Can't wait to see (Blaire's friend) Leslie's solution for her Eyris mabé and Tahitian peacock drop.

Nonetheless, more than a little concerned about the description on the site: 18kt gold, Stg silver, Rubellite, Tahitian & Paua Pearls, as the Paua is a cultured mabé. This risks confusion with natural free form paua pearls (you see, now I am obligated to qualify them as natural).

[pearllover2]

Yes, I suppose its not just pearls strung on a thread.
It is a custom piece for an America's Cup sailor.........representing motion, wind and water......

pearllover2
Juerg P. Muff
Award winning designs
www.orbitgold.com

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by pearllover2

Yes, I suppose its not just pearls strung on a thread.

A Libertarian by nature, I reread the pertinent chapters of the CIBJO Pearl Book only in the interests of clarification and understanding.

—The word Pearl by itself may only be used for natural pearls.

—Assembled/Composite Cultured Blisters may not be called pearls. In the case of Eyris Blues, 'Abalone Cultured Blisters.'

—Should Eyris succeed in producing full round cultured pearls, these would be 'Abalone Cultured Pearls.'

[Pearl_dreams]

Love the grasshopper and the dragonfly, though I don't generally like bug jewelry. They are dazzling.

[J Marcus]

Pearllover2: I think that the forum "The 'Other' Pearls" should accommodate the cultured abalone blisters.

Smetzler: Does the CIBJO Pearl Book address the term "Mabe'"?

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

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by J Marcus

Smetzler: Does the CIBJO Pearl Book address the term "Mabe'"?

Here is the pertinent section:

5.12. Assembled Cultured Blister

assemblages of a purpose-grown cultured blister (5.52) which have been cut from their shell, the original bead (5.139) upon which they grew being removed and the cavity filled with various types of man-made materials, and backed by a layer of shell, the assemblages being held together by an adhesive; commonly known as Mabe (5.110) or Hankei (5.88) and occur in both fresh and seawater environments. Not to be confused with cut cultured pearl (5.54).

But this is common sense and common knowledge among practically everyone here, I assume. So I also assume that everyone is agreed that calling Eyris Blue mabés 'Paua Pearls' (or any kind of pearls, for that matter) is clearly an unfair trade practice as defined by CIBJO.

[New Zealand Natural Pearl]

Here, Down Under, Cultured is know as a Mabe, Natural is known as a Blister.
Both are treated the same way in processing i.e. filling and backing.
Occassionally we find a blister that is solid nachre. Next we process we w ill post an image of a solid blister.

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by New Zealand Natural Pearl

Here, Down Under, Cultured is know as a Mabe, Natural is known as a Blister.

Thanks NZ Naturals. This is consistent with the CIBJO inclusion of Mabé only under the heading of cultured blisters.

But the issue here, acutely relevant in your case, is use of Pearls, Paua Pearls or similar by the trade when offering fine jewellery made with Mabé. We know what CIBJO says on the subject, is it that 'Down Under' things are seen differently?

Or does the astronomical pricing fetched by Eyris Blue Mabés make them non-threatening in terms of eroding the value and image of paua pearls?

In such a case, truth in advertising would remain to be considered.

[New Zealand Natural Pearl]

We are happy with the words "cultured mabe pearl" as a PEARL is
an iritation inside the shell with convex nachre

[smetzler]

Many thanks!

[New Zealand Natural Pearl]

Thought you may like a touch of Down Under Marine Life
Image 1. Gem Grade Natural Freeform Pearl 3.25 ct
Image 2 Pearl Designed into Jelly Fish

[smetzler]

Another fine piece! Suggestion: These posts would be better suited to HopePaua's thread Natural Paua Pearls under Natural Pearls.

Caitlin/Jeremy/Kevin: Actually, this thread and Natural Paua Pearls are, in my opinion, correctly posted under Natural Pearls, abs being 100% nacreous. All prior threads on Abs were under 'All Other Pearls' lumped together with calcareous concretions, and I think they would all be more appropriately moved to Naturals, removing abs from the 'All Others' subtitle.

[J Marcus]

I too, have come across just a few solid natural abalone blisters. Up until about a month ago I had seen only a total of four, of which I own three, but a short while ago I acquired a couple more shells which have some blisters that may be the same kind. They are a puzzle because they don't seem to be directly related to any parasite--at least none that bore through the shell from the outside. I've been referring to them as "berry blisters" because they seem to come grouped in small clusters like a rasberry. I'll see if I can dig them out, snap some pictures and post them in the next few days.

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

[Caitlin]

I'll take a look at it.

[pearllover2]

dear smetzler
the quote posted was a reply to Kevin Cannings previous message re design of the piece, not to the concerns you've mentioned.

however, you have raised a very good issue.
the next website update will include the word "cultured" as a clarifier.

thanks for your help!

pearllover2
www.orbitgold.com