WHAT ARE BLISTER OR MABE PEARLS ?

Also called blister pearls or half-pearls, Mabe pearls are grown against the inside of the oyster’s shell, rather than within its tissue. These pearls typically have a hemispherical shape with a flat back. While the pearl is still in the oyster, it is called a blister pearl. After reworking, it is referred to as a Mabe pearl.

Small blister pearls are commonly found in nature, and therefore not very expensive, except when they are produced by certain rare mollusk species. Mabe pearls are beautiful, making them attractive in jewelry. They come in a wide range of vibrant and exotic colors, ranging from light pink to bluish shades with hues that gleam rainbow-like. Pink Mabe pearls with golden swirls are extremely rare.

How Blister Pearls Are Cultivated

Cultured blister pearls are nucleated with a hemispherical nucleus which is implanted against the oyster shell beneath the mantle tissue. Some pearl farmers even glue the nucleus onto the shell. The mollusc is returned to the water. The mollusk secretes layers of nacre which covers the nucleus to form a hemispherical pearl with a flat back.  After 12 months to six years – depending on the type of mollusk and the desired size – the mollusc is harvested.

How Mabe Pearls Are ‘Worked’

To make a Mabe pearl, the blister pearl needs some work to be done. First, a circle-bit drill is used to cut the blister pearl from the mollusc shell. The nucleus is removed from the pearl, and the hole is filled with resin. The back of the pearl is capped with a piece of mother-of-pearl to complete the Mabe pearl.

If you look closely, you can see where the Mabe pearl was sealed, but most jewelry designs hide the seam.

Jewelry Made From Mabe Pearls

Jewellers secure Mabe pearls in settings which require a hemispherical shape that conceals the flat back. These attractive pearls are usually found in rings, earrings, or set within a pendant. You won’t find Mabe pearls on a string of real pearls necklace or bracelet.

Here are some examples of Mabe Pearls from our shop:

Golden Mabe Pearl Necklace:

Golden Mabe Pearl Earrings:

The Different Types Of Mabe Pearls

Generally, blister pearls are grown in four types of mollusks:

The Penguin’s Wing Oyster Pteria Penguin

Pearls from the penguin’s wing oyster make up about 75% of all Mabe pearls on the market. These pearls are produced in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippine Islands. The oyster gets its name from the shape of the mollusk – an elongated wing or fin that extends from the lip. The penguin’s wing oyster produces silvery-gray blister pearls with overtones of pink, green, violet, and blue iridescence.

The Rainbow-Lipped Pearl Oyster (Pteria Sterna

Mabe pearls from the rainbow lipped pearl oyster are pretty rare. This oyster gets its name from the intense iridescent colours it produces. These pearls are grown in the Gulf of California, and specifically in Baja California. Colours range from light to medium gray with intense flashes of pink, green, violet, and blue iridescence.

White-Lipped and Gold-Lipped South Sea Pearl Oysters (Pinctada Maxima

The gold-lipped and white-lipped saltwater oysters are found off the coast of Northern Australia and the Philippine Islands. These oysters produce large blister pearls of 10mm and larger. Each mollusk can produce 8 to10 blister pearls each, and they need 10 to 12 months to grow. Pearl colors are primarily silvery-white and golden.

The Abalone Mabe Pearl (Halitosis Iris

The abalone Mabe pearl can be found in New Zealand and it usually has around, drop, or oval shape. Colours are typically brilliant blue with intense flashes of pink, green, and gold iridescence. These blister pearls take about 18 months to grow, and average sizes range from 9-13mm, although some pearls get as big as 20mm.

Get in touch with Timeless Pearl if you want to learn more about Mabe Pearls.
Resource Url:  https://www.timelesspearl.com/blister-mabe-pearls/

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Summer Wedding Inspiration: Jewelry And Colour Choices

Choosing the right color and theme that match your personality is key to having your dream wedding. When planning your big day, you have many choices to make about what to wear, how to decorate, who to invite, and which songs to add or to cut from your playlist. But before you choose these things, you need to get the mood right. Here are seven inspiring mood boards, complete with jewelry suggestions for yourself and your entourage.

Browse Timeless Pearl for perfect handcrafted pearl jewelry for your perfect day.

Retro Queen

Create a modern retro ambiance with a luxe color palette and an unusual venue with lots of character, like a downtown rooftop, botanical garden, historical site, or an old converted warehouse. Keep the decorations minimalistic, but blow life into the party with light strings and a live jazz band.

Our Color Suggestions:

White, black, hot pink, and silver.

Our Jewelry Suggestions:

Bow Tie Pearl Brooch  

Golden Crown Edison Pearl Earrings

Blooming Rose Diamond Pearl Brooch/Necklace  

Rustic Charm

Elegant but charming, a barn wedding speaks of nostalgia and romance. Earthy colors, violin music, good wine, and a homely menu will create the right ambiance. If you can’t find a barn venue, a wine cellar will make a great alternative.

Our Color Suggestions:

Copper, brown, white, and a touch of green and pink.

Our Jewelry Suggestions:

Empress Pearl Necklace

Golden Signature Southsea Pearl Earrings  

Golden Leaf Bronze Pearl Bracelet

Cotton-Candy Glamour

Who thought that the words fun and elegance could be used in the same sentence? This palette’s cool hues are youthful but sophisticated – the perfect combination for a summer celebration. Avoid stuffy decorations and rather opt for DIY cupcakes and simple bouquets. A beach or garden will make the perfect wedding venue for this theme.

Our Color Suggestions:

Turquoise, lavender, light teal, and old gold.

Our Jewelry Suggestions:

Dancing Girl Pearl Brooch/Pendant

Mystery Queen Purple Pearl Ring  

Edison Pearl Purple Hairpin

Bohemian Forest

A forest venue adds new meaning to the phrase ‘fairy-tale wedding’. If you’re lucky enough to celebrate your big day close to nature, make sure you take advantage of the beautiful landscape – keep your palette neutral and your decorations effortless to blend into the surroundings, but add bits of color with flowers. Strings of lights and candles add to the romance. Who knows, you might spot a fairy in the background while dancing in the arms of your beloved!

Our Color Suggestions:

Forest green, mint green, and cherry red.

Our Jewelry Suggestions:

Golden Baroque Pearl Necklace & Bracelet Set

Snowflake Queen Golden Pearl Earrings  

White Cherry Blossom Pearl Pin

Playful Spirit

Bright colors against a fresh, white background are perfect if you don’t take yourself too seriously. Have fun with decorations and wedding favors creating a festive feel. Think out of the box when choosing a venue, like a carnival, circus, or drive-in.

Our Color Suggestions:

Bright blue, flamingo pink, fresh green, and white.

Our Jewelry Suggestions:

Butterflies In Love Pearl Necklace

Purple Wave Pearl Ring

Magic Purple Pearl Pin

Fresh Elegance

Light up an elegant blue-and-white palette with bits of bright green. Minimalist decorations, glass, and silverware keep the theme elegant and classy. This choice is perfect for evening weddings.

Our Color Suggestions:

White, indigo blue, powder blue, with pops of lime green.

OUR JEWELRY SUGGESTIONS:

Simple Elegance Pearl Necklace & Earrings Set

Magic Drops Pearls Earrings

Sacred Love Pearl Bracelet

Vibrant Color

Nothing brightens up a hot summer’s day like bold and bright colors. Draw inspiration from your local summer flowers when creating your wedding palette. Vibrant, multicolored bouquets, colored jewelry, shoes, wedding favors and delicacies will imbue happiness, joy, and bliss.  

Our Color Suggestions:

Sunbeam yellow, light teal, scarlet red, and lavender.

Our Jewelry Suggestions:

Four-Leaf Clover Pearl Jewelry Set

Blue Lady Pearl Earrings

Three Strands Pearl Bracelet

Have you created your own palette and theme to suit your personality and ideal venue? We have many more designs that you’ll love. There are much more where this comes from. 

Reference Link: https://www.timelesspearl.com/summer-wedding-inspiration-jewelry-color-choices/

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MUCH LIKE SNOWFLAKES, EVERY PEARL IS UNIQUE

Marilyn Monroe memorably claimed that diamonds are a girl's best friend, but that was clearly because nobody ever bought her pearls – or, whisper it quietly, they attempted to trick her with counterfeit products. Fake pearls are barely even a casual acquaintance.

Fortunately, there are a number of telltale signs that will prevent you handing over your hard earned money for imitation adornments, becoming the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons in the process. In the meantime, tells take a look at just why pearls are the perfect gift for any special woman in your life.

Pearls are formed when sand irritates an oyster, which in turn releases a fluid that hardens until you possess the precious gem in your hand. As a result, every genuin Hand crafted pearl jewelry in the world has its own bespoke design forged by the winds and sands that may have blown over the gem while it was being forged, as well as each every pearl being a different shape and size. If you have access to a magnifying glass or microscope, take a good look at your pearls and marvel at the smooth but weathered appearance of these beautiful precious stones – pearls are described as Nature’s Miracle for a reason

This is also a useful way of spotting counterfeit pearls that may be peddled by an unscrupulous jeweler. If your pearls are all identical in appearance – especially if they are perfectly round and have a generic, eggshell texture – you are more than likely looking at a forgery.

Pearls are Healthy

If your pearls are genuine, you can even rub them together. Real pearls, being gems, will create a very fine powder that does no permanent damage to the surface of the stone. In turn, genuine pearls can work wonders for the skin. Taking this fine powder generated by grinding pearls together and mixing with a little rose water makes for an effective facemask, or brush the dust across your cheeks as a face powder. As pearls are filled with natural antioxidants and amino acids, this powder will improve the production of collagen beneath your skin – leading to a smoother, clearer complexion – and if consumed, the minerals contained within boost the immune system. 

The Gift of Pearls Represents a Love Bond

Pearls are borne of love; the oyster that houses these precious gems shields and protects the pearl from the harshest of elements until a beautiful stone is ready to plucked. These bonds also apply to act of gift giving, and passing pearls to a love one is an act of suggesting that very same bond. What’s more, you will find that regularly worn pearls will eventually lose some of their sheen and luster, fading from a pure white to something more akin to an off yellow. This is because the pearls have given their best minerals to whoever is wearing them. Pearls represent an eternal loop of giving and sacrifice to those we love most.

Pearls are Inspirational

Much like us, pearls start from nothing and grow into something truly special and beloved. Starting as merely sand and nurtured until they are ready to reach their potential, the gift from pearls from a parent to a child offers a metaphor for the same experience. Much like pearls, we are shielded and protected until we are ready to face the world alone, and the more hardship and challenges we experience, the greater we become.

Pearls Stem from Water

Environment-friendly and generated in water, the most essential natural resource in the world, pearls are gifts of nature. This water-centric birth gives pearls a unique character, softer and a little less apparent than diamonds but bestowing a virtue of modesty upon those wearing them. Pearls fit all styles and give a touch of elegance, especially through a vibrant, opalescent and almost two-tone shine. Genuine pearls could come in a variety of shades of white, black, pink, lavender or gold, and you will never struggle to find an accompanying outfit.

Warning Signs of Counterfeit Pearls

As we have established, pearls are some of the most wonderful gifts bestowed upon us by Mother Nature. In order to ensure you are purchasing genuine gems, keep an eye open for any of these warning signs that make suggest a forgery.

Immaculately spherical pearls are often fakes, as these gems should be ever so slightly off round. Imperfection is your friend in the hunt for genuine pearls, as minor flaws tend to equal authenticity.

If you do not trust your own eyes, a little handling will make things clearer. Genuine pearls should feel heavy and cool to the touch, warming up with in the palm of your hand. A pearl that feels indistinguishable from room temperature from the moment you identify it is a surefire warning sign of man-made counterfeit materials such as plastic or glass.

An authentic string of pearls will allow the gems to touch, and will not require knotting between gems. If you are looking at a necklace that does not permit the pearls to touch one another, the chances are this is because the manufacturer fears that the damage caused by such interaction will reveal their deception. Large drill holes with chipped surfaces are also a giveaway here – a genuine pearl necklace will enjoy tiny, immaculate threading, usually on silk.

Alternatively, you could rub one of the gems against your teeth. It may sound odd, but this is widely regarded as the most surefire manner of identifying genuine pearls. If dealing with the real thing, you will find the sensation to be coarse and gritty against your enamel, as opposed to the smooth surface that you would associate with counterfeit materials. The texture of a real pearl is so distinctive and unique that it’s impossible to replicate on a production line.

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MARKING THE MILESTONE OF GRADUATION WITH A GIFT OF PEARL JEWELRY

Graduation is a celebration of the first major life milestone reached by your teenage child; the completion of high school. As with other milestones, like turning 21, traditions exist to mark this rite of passage.

In Japan, graduates wear their usual school uniform and perform choreographed marching routines whilst singing. In Sweden, sailor hats are graduation headwear. These high-school leavers receive special gifts from their parents, which hang from ribbons around their necks. In the Philippines, each graduate wears a flower lei, a sign of affection and congratulation.

Pearls are the only gems created by a living animal and they take time to form. Over time layers of nacre, the iridescent substance from which handcrafted pearl jewellery are formed, are built up and the longer a pearl stays in the mollusk shell, the larger it will be.

Education is, like pearls, layered. Every year of school adds to your child’s growth and knowledge until they graduate from high school equipped with the skills to create their own work, seek employment or to enrol in tertiary studies.

Pearls are a meaningful gift, like the education you have given your daughter that she will have for the rest of her life. She will wear her pearls at college, at work, dinners, and special occasions and even as she walks down the aisle on her wedding day.

Jewellery is a reflection of personality so choosing an appropriate design is your biggest challenge. While you can never go wrong with an elegant single row of pearls, your range of choice includes different design styles, number of strands, length of rows, sizes and shapes of pearls, and colours.

Make your selection for your daughter of pearl earrings, necklace, ring, bracelet or brooch by considering her personality and style preferences – conservative or bold, simple or ornate. The shape of the pearl contributes to the design and reflection of your daughter’s personality. As for the colour of the pearls, white is not your only option. Peach, purple, pink, gold, black, silver, green, plum and every subtle shade in between are available.

Most of all, be guided by a buying a versatile design that she will be able to wear at graduation and in the years that follow. She will forever remember this day every time she wears her pearls.

PEARLS FOR GRADUATION

We have put together a selection of our Edison pearl jewellery graduation favourites to inspire your choice.

EMPRESS PEARL BRACELET

This single string of white, pink and purple pearls is a modern update on a classic pearl bracelet. The Empress Pearl Bracelet will be as appropriate to wear on graduation day as it will on many special occasions in the years to come.

RAINDROP PEARL EARRINGS

Straying only slightly from the classic tradition of a single pearl stud, this natural-color, button-shaped pearls seem to rest on the tip of their sterling silver earring hooks like a raindrop on a petal. These Raindrop Pearl Earrings will add a bit of glamour to your daughter’s graduation outfit.

SIMPLE ELEGANCE PEARL NECKLACE & EARRINGS SET

The Simple Elegance Pearl Necklace and Earrings Set is timeless classic that will continue to go with every outfit long after graduation day. Oval-shaped pearls add interest to this simple and elegant design. Instead of white, opt for the subtle hues of silver-grey or pink-purple collared pearls available in this set.

TIMELESS FIVE PEARL NECKLACES

This multicoloured strand of pearls features white for gratitude, purple for wisdom, and pink for passion. This Timeless Five Pearl Necklace carries a thoughtful message of treasured wishes for your daughter in her life post-graduation.

MANDALA PEARL BROOCH

Mandalay is geometric shapes that form from a circular base. Symbolizing the universe, unity and harmony, the Mandala Pearl Brooch will look beautiful pinned to your daughter’s dress on graduation day.

For more options, visit our shop to find the perfect graduation jewellery piece for your daughter.

Blog Resources : https://www.timelesspearl.com/graduation-gift-of-pearl-jewelry/

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