Melo Melo PearlsMelo Melo pearls are technically not pearls...find out why.
 Melo Pearl from Vietnam Desmond, now living in Vietnam, contacted me here at KariPearls....he must have known how I LOVE to hear about natural pearls...and sent me this photo. This pearl is remarkable in several aspects--size, color, shape, and luster, surface...see for yourself, how lovely it is. So...why is this pearl from Vietnam technically not a pearl? Because technically pearls must be made of nacre. The melo melo pearl, while caused by an irritant like most natural pearls, is made of crystals of aragonite. Since these crystals are arranged perpendicular to the surface, they produce a flame like pattern which is called, chatoyancy (“shuh-TOY-un-see”).
 Melo Melo Pearl from Vietnam (Enlarged)
This photo is enlarged to show the fine flame details of this gorgeous 22mm 19.13 grams orange and round melo melo pearl from Vietnam...yes, those are fingers holding it. Desmond's pearl is likely worth several thousands of dollars. Melo Melo pearls can range in color from tan to orange to brown. with orange the most favorable. The color might fade over time. All Melo pearls are natural as no one has yet to be successful in culturing them. The Melo snail is used for food (Escagot-French for snail), but because they bear pearls from time to time the meat is searched carefully before boiling. Boiling ruins the pearls.  Melo Pearl with Shell
Class: GASTROPODA ORTHOGASTROPODA
Also called Indian Volute, Bailer Snail, Melo Amphora.
See photos and learn more about the Melo amphora marine smail here. Now....you think that's a big pearl? Well...it certainly is. But wait...here's one called Sunrise Pearl...Largest of Melo Melo Pearls...it's the size of a golf ball, the biggest and roundest natural Melo Pearl found in the world! It's owner has turned down an offer for 7 million USD for the Sunrise Pearl.
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