Something old, something new...

[jshepherd]

Does anyone recognize these? The specific type?



Here is a a picture of just a few of the "pearls" in the blue strand.

 

[nlerner]

Something old, something new...

Too smooth to be Eyris.

 

[Slraep]

Some kind of mabe? They can't be Sea of Cortez stuff cause Douglas just sent me some shells with mabe and they ROCK big time. I don't think they get peach in p. sterna. Yours look kind of faux. Might be the lighting. But what do i know?

Slraep

 

[jshepherd]

This one is smooth. So smooth, in fact, it sold for $15 k.



You can certainly see the difference in color, however.

No, the strand is not Eyris. If it were I would have to title the thread something new, something new. It is a "kind" of mabe. Or would claim to be the one.

 

[Ashley]

Cultured Akoya Mabe? The surfaces are really, really smooth, but the blue color reminds me alot of your untreated Blue Akoyas, Jeremy!

 

[jshepherd]

Nope, not akoya. Those would be some monster akoya if they were. They are from a small operation in China, however.

 

[Ashley]

Scratch that- Those have gotta be Gold and Silver P. maxima Mabes...

 

[Slraep]

I'm stumped! I hate that feeling. Can you give us more time?

You are not going to tell us these are lamprotula mabes, are you? 15K?

Slraep

 

[Ashley]

No- that 15K piece was the Eyris Mabe that was purchased on the GIA trip recently...

 

[Slraep]

They can't be the regular p. penguins. Unless they come from Z. Then the sky is the limit regarding colour and texture.

China? Freshwaters?

Slraep

 

[jshepherd]

You got it! And they are not from Zeide. These are for real.

The original mabe pearls - Pteria penguin.



The colors are amazing, aren't they.

 

[WeeGem]

Those are absolutely beautiful, like satin pillows! Lovely.

 

[Slraep]

Phhewww!!! That was hard. Tricky.

At least Z imagined them right, even if she never had any or saw any.

Wow, those are neat. I don't agree with mabes being the most expensive way to buy glue. Good mabes can be astoundingly beautiful. I wouldn't pay 15K for any mabe though. Sorry, no way. The colours in the above p.pengiuns are amazing, that's true, gotta admit that.

Slraep

 

[Slraep]

However beautiful the fancy coloured pteria penguin mabes are, I find they are no contest to these. My personal opinion only, of course.

 

[Ashley]

Wow- that was a toughie Jeremy! I never would have thought...

Are we perhaps going to be seeing much more of these on the pearling market? I really liked the coloration on the blues; I bet if the price points are nice, they might end up being fairly popular!

 

[jshepherd]

I do not know what will really happen with the mabes. Most producers do not culture them because the cost/value ratio does not make sense. But leave it to the Chinese to change that. I do not know what they cost at the point, but I would be surprised to hear if they were expensive.

 

[Casey.R]

Those are nice. Maybe it's because they are so shiny but they almost look fake in the first photo.

 

[Valeria101]

Jeremy, are both strands from the same Pteria Penguin? If so, is the color variation from the pearl, or due to the backing etc. ?

 

[Valeria101]

Do you guys think that these might be...

 

[boo]

I think they would make fabulous post earrings. I don't care much for pearl posts b/c they sit so high above the surface of ear, even buttons. Those would sit nice and close, even in the larger sizes.