What is Mabe Pearl?

Mabe pearl is a dome-shaped cultured pearl grown on the inner shell of a mollusk. Different from the pearls we often see, mabe pearl is a kind of semi-spherical cultured pearl. It has two sides. One side is flat and the other side is round. The word "mabe" comes from the Amami dialect of the Ryukyuan language in Japan.

Mabe pearls are identified by their unusual shape which results from the manner in which the pearls grow. The process to cultivate Mabe pearls is different from the normal ones. The common mollusk for mabe pearls is Pteria penguin, or penguin wing oyster. It is found across the world in semi-tropical and tropical seas. Until it is harvested from the mollusk, the mabe pearl is considered a blister pearl. The mabe pearl is formed by first implanting a nucleus (pearl starter) to the interior side of the mollusk shell, instead of inside the mollusk's tissue. Once ready to harvest, the pearl is cut from the mollusk along with the attached shell. The shell backing and nucleus are removed. The pearl's hollow is filled with resin and a mother of pearl backing is placed on it. As a matter of fact, people spent long time and made great effort to cultivate mabe pearls from 19th century to 70’s in 20th century. As the development of cultivating techniques, the mabe pearls can be produced in large quantities.

Mabe pearls can come in many colors and sizes, and even shapes. As long as one side is flat, it is a mabe pearl. It can be round on the other side or oblong. The rarest mabe pearls are ones that are pink with gold swirls. Mabe pearls can be rainbow-like in color, containing several high-gloss colors. Their texture and luster is superior to that of a normal round pearl, but will never be as valuable because of the flat side.

Mabe pearl becomes popular in recent years because of its beautiful iridescence and luster. While everyone is still wearing normal pearl jewelry, you will be super chic in this kind of special one. Due to its special shape, mabe pearls are widely used for pearl earrings, pearl pendants and pearl rings.

Tell me this Mabe pearl set isn't adorable!?? They are designed to be classic. I have to admit that this kind of pearl style is usually considered to be plain and simple. But it never goes out of fashion. It is something you can have on no matter what you're wearing. For me, if we can wear them on a daily basis that means is worth more.


The circle design is gorgeous and though there are not many diamonds around the mabe pearl, but the mabe pearl pendant looks so chic and eye-catching. It is easily for everyday wear. The mabe pearl pendant is simple, but beautiful with incredible detail. The blue mabe pearl pendant keeps consistent with the simplistic beauty theme, and is very in tune with nature with its natural colors and shapes.