Largest Roundest Most Perfect Melo Pearl in the World

See photos of the largest roundest most perfect melo pearl in the world.


Melo pearls form in the marine snail Melo Melo, also called Indian Volute, Bailer Snail, and Melo Amphora.

Since they are made of crystals of aragonite, rather than nacre, melo pearls are not technically pearls, but called pearls all the same.

Here you can see the size of the largest roundest most perfect melo pearl in the world, as compared to a ping pong ball.

Orange is the most favorable color for melo pearls, but colors can range from tan to dark brown.

Largest Melo Pearl in Case
Largest Melo Pearl in Case

After Desmond, from Vietnam, contacted me about a large melo pearl, I began researching melo pearls and discovered the largest, roundest, most perfect melo pearl in the world and contacted Ray Chen for permission to use his photos and information about this colossal melo pearl.

Here are new photos of this amazing SUNRISE pearl.

Largest melo pearl with ping pong ball
Largest Melo Pearl with Ping Pong Ball

Diameter: 37.97 ~ 37.58 mm
Weight: 397.52 cts.
Color: Orange
Surface: Smooth
Sphericity: Loose, near round
Cultivation: Hundreds of Years
Shininess: Brilliant
Character: Of the non-nacreous variety
Certificate: AIGS on December 26, 1996 Given by Dr. Ken Scarrett

Largest Melo Pearl in Case by Newspaper
Largest Melo Pearl in Case by Newspaper

Melo pearls, found in South Chine Sea and the Bay of Bengal are extremely rare.

Mr. Chen is not sure where this pearl was found, but, about 10 several years ago, the pearl owner bought it from a Vietnamese who looked like some disappointed noble.

According to the Vietnamese seller, the largest roundest most perfect melo pearl in the world and the second largest Melo Pearl (about 32 mm), are twins. This information is listed in the Smithsonian Museum.

Being twins means they both come from the same Melo Melo Snail. And about 4 or 5 years ago from now, this was confirmed by Christie's Auction Corp who had tried to sell the second largest Melo pearl in the auction in Hong Kong. (Mr. Chen attended that auction.)

The second largest roundest most perfect melo pearl in the world recently appeared at the Thailand 2006 September Jewelry Show.

According to Mr. Ray Chen, it is impossible to find another one like this. That's because it will take several hundred years to form a pearl in the Melo Melo. The Indian Volute, (another name for the Melo) is very rare to find a pearl in.

Originally, the former Yugoslavian Prince--the vice president-- Mr. Domitri Karageorge in Sotheby suggested not to sell it by auction and he offered about USD 5 million for it at Taiwan Sotheby about 3 years ago. Then, he offered about USD 7 million after he got back to USA from Taiwan.

Nevertheless, the owner still did not accept it. (This pearl has now sold!)

Attempts at culturing the melo pearl have not been successful, so every melo pearl is totally natural...a wonderful gift of nature and unlike other natural pearls, melo melo pearls are most often round.

Melo pearls for sale.

Go to main natural pearl page after learning about the largest roundest most perfect melo pearl in the world.

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