ma·be | mä-ˌbā
noun
A Japanese term for cultured pearls, which are cultured against the shell so that only half a pearl is formed resembling a half-sphere
A Mabe pearl is a type of cultured pearl that is formed against the side of the shell to form a half-sphere shape. These composite cultured pearls are often also known as blister pearls for their half-moon shape. First developed in 12th century China, blister pearls have been used for centuries in pendants, earrings, and other pieces of jewelry. Modern-day blister pearls in the form of Mabe were introduced in the 1950s as a more affordable way to wear pearls and were produced extensively by Japan at the time. Mabe are still used today in a range of different types of jewelry as an inexpensive alternative to the larger, cultured white pearls.
