Where can I buy Mabe Pearls?

[antiguamarie]

thanks very much for the responses -- I looked through the older link to the New Zealand trip and got a lot of information from that. From the photos it really does look like it could be an abalone -- I'd stumbled on that possibility just yesterday and even phoned their US distributor, who told me that there were no oval shaped abalones. I didn't quite believe that, so I'm following up by emailing the Eyris folks directly.
Thanks again, and I'll keep checking back in case there's any additional info.

[GemGeek]

There isn't any reason not to have ovals, since they are cultured. Hmmmm... I never thought of that!

[antiguamarie]

Hi,
I heard directly from the folks at Eyris in NZ, who told me that they no longer produce ovals anymore (didn't say why but someone else said there were some production/quality issues) and only have one remaining, which costs USD$1,500 before taxes, shipping etc. You were right about sticker-shock!
The photo they sent of it is attached, next to a re-post of the one I liked. Theirs is 11mm x 14.6mm. The size is right, but I don't think it's what I'm looking for in terms of color and iridescence, though. Darker and doesn't seem to have the rose tones. I've also asked them for a photo showing the dome height.
Maybe I'll have to redesign the ring and go with a round one. There'll be a better chance of finding the right color, and also hopefully it'll be more affordable.
thanks much for the help; I'll keep checking back here in case of additional info.

[pattye]

You might check with Carolyn Ehret (Ehret Design Gallery on ebay) for Sea of Cortez mabes. The color on them is gorgeous with amazing intense rose, purple, aqua and blue overtones on a more silvery base color. and they are not cut round, but more drop shape or oval. They tend to run in the low hundreds. I don't know if they can be reshaped after the backing is applied. These have heavy nacre making them suitable for rings. I see the Cortez pearls were mentioned earlier in this thread--but no real great photos close up. The complexity of their ever changing colors make them a favorite of mine, and the 2009 harvest should be pretty much over right nowl

I do love large rings, and your design is lovely!

Perhaps also contact our member JMarcus, up in Bellingham WA, who makes mabes? He might have some ideas---and could custom make something for you---

[Sueki]

The Cortez mabes are gorgeous - and very, very colourful.
Here are some I purchased from druzydesign.

[Caitlin]

Antiguamarie That is a huge mabe and well worth the price and since it is no longer being produced- it is a rare example from a world-renowned company.

[antiguamarie]

thanks to all for the good advice and photos - following up on all and considering whether I can make that investment for the Last Oval Eyris..
meantime, on ebay, I'm finding a bunch of blue mabes that don't specify that they're abalone, like the one attached here. As always you can't really tell from the photos but they don't seem to have the verve of the abalones, but some are quite nice.
Can someone explain what are these non-abalone blue mabes? Do blue mabes occur naturally in other species, or if they aren't ablaones, does that mean that they're dyed?
thanks again.

[pattye]

It's very difficult to tell from that photo. My hunch is that they are dyed, originally whitish. For such a ring as you are planning, I doubt you can get the complexity of color you want in a dyed mabe. Sueki, thanks for the great photos of the Sea of Cortez!

[GemGeek]

Mabes are grown over a form attached to the shell. The form is removed from the nacre and epoxy or resin is used to fill the inside and a piece of mother of pearl is attached to the back. Some of the mabe colors are created by coloring the inside of the empty nacre shell before filling, or using a colored implant - the nacre being thin enough for the color to be transmitted.

The Eyris oval will not have a high dome. There is an optimum height range for quality and higher implants just don't work as well in culturing abalones. Pattye and Sueki are right about the Sea of Cortez mabes. They take your breath away and they do come in ovals. The height of the dome on your ring hints at natural abalone or osmina as the source. Let us know what you decide to do.

[antiguamarie]

thanks - I think Pattye is right that complexity of color won't be found in a regular mabe. Here's a link to a paper written on the Eyris company in NZ, all you ever wanted to know about abalone pearl production, and more :-)
http://www.australiangemmologist.com...one_pearls.pdf

[CortezPearls]

Reviving this old thread for the interest of other visitors.
I am posting some images of Mabe from different species: Pteria penguin, Pinctada maxima and Pinctada margaritifera.

You will be able to see their insides and notice the different processes they have. Some with epoxy resins, some with epoxy+talc.

[CortezPearls]

Of course, dissecting pearls is fun... but nothing compares to becoming enslaved to the true unadulterated beauty of a Gem grade Mabe Pearl...in the shape you desire and the colors that only Mother-Nature can provide...

[GemGeek]

Oh Douglas! Pearlnography!

[Keshibelle]

Oh Douglas! Pearlnography!

I'll say!!!! Now I have to mop up the drool on my laptop......

[pattye]

Just can't have enough of those beauties!