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Mabe Pearl Earrings

If you want to add a touch of elegance to your wardrobe then why not purchase, or get a loved one to purchase an exquisite set of Mabe pearl earrings. They come in a variety of styles and colors to suit any taste and are generally styled as a stud type.

Pearls jewels are one of the most sought-after gems with their shimmer and smooth appearance. Many ancient cultures including the Egyptians believed that pearls gave them wealth and power and were even buried with them. In battle men in medieval times would carry pearls with them as they believed that the magical powers would protect them from harm.

Unfortunately, today, natural sea-grown pearls from oysters have become virtually impossible to get and this has lead to the cultivation of pearls to make gorgeous necklaces and other jewelry like the Mabe pearl earrings.

To explain a little bit more about what a Mabe pearl is; it is half a pearl that has been cultured, also known as a blister pearl because it is grown on the inside of a mollusk’s shell and not inside its body.

The Mabe pearl is grown by attaching a thin layer of glue to the inside of the shell by way of strings that have been threaded through drilled holes. This way you will know that in the making of your Mabe pearl earrings, the creature was not hurt at all or covered in glue.

Then they will build up a nacre layer around the strange object which is about 0.2 to 0.5 mm thick, which will take about two to three years. After the snail has died and been discarded, the inside of its shell is ground down carefully to reveal the pearl that will be used to make Mabe pearl earrings.

Each sore pearl will be checked and any underdeveloped or poor quality ones will be thrown out. The cavity is usually filled with a resin of some kind and backed with a mother or pearl covering.

The process takes such a long time because the production of the colorful nacre only takes place during the summer months. After the pearl is revealed and extracted for use in making Mabe pearl earrings, they are first sorted according to:

  • Color
  • Luster
  • Size (The smallest size used for production is normally 8mm in diameter and can be as big as 27mm in diameter.)
  • Surface quality (from smooth to minor defects and inclusions.)

Many Mabe pearl earrings are beautifully adorned in patterns of silver or gold, can have intricate designs using other precious or semi-precious stones like diamonds or sapphires, and are widely available all over the world.

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