Mabe Pearls

What Are Mabe Pearls?

One of the more popular types of pearls in the world is the Mabe Pearl. In the West, people often call all half round pearls Mabe. In Japan, “Mabe” pearl means a half-round pearl made from “Mabe” pearl oyster. The name originates from Japan as the Japanese call the giant winged-pearl oyster “Mabe” since they have traditionally been used for producing half round pearls.

They produce this type of pearl because of the structure of its internal organs that is different from other pearl oysters. Half round pearls are also created by other types of pearl oysters suck as the black and silverlip pearl oysters. The difference is that the Mabe’s color and luster is much different from the other half-round pearls in quality as well as market price. It is also said that Mabe color is the most beautiful color among the pearls. Because of the distinct color, Japanese “Mabe” pearl farms have for years been trying to produce round pearls by developing new grafting techniques. This “Mabe” round pearl production has at last been achieved today in Japan but is not yet economically viable due to the low success rate. People have found it extremely difficult to create round pearls in the Mabe oyster, that’s why they are continued to be created

How Are Mabe Pearls Created

A mabe is a hemispherically shaped pearl that is grown against the inside of an oysters shell, instead of regularly in its tissue. This is done by using a piece of plastic hemisphere and gluing it into the inside of an oysters shell.  The hemispherical nucleus is kept in the oyster until it is covered with a sufficient amount of nacre. Once it is covered with enough nacre, the pearl is cut away from the inner shell by using a circle-bit drill. The pearl is then taken out, and the cavity filled with a substance such as epoxy resin and backed by a mother-of-pearl plate this method results in the pearl having a hemispherical shape.

Mabe pearls can sometimes occur in nature, but this is very rare. While in the oyster a mabe pearl is actually considered a blister pearl not a mabe pearl. After the blister pearl has been 'worked' it then becomes a mabe pearl.

Types of Mabe Pearl Jewelry

Cultured Mabes are used for such things as rings and earrings, rather than for stringing on necklaces.They tend to be very beautiful with high lustre and orient, but are priced much lower than round pearls.