Feeling Melo

Pearls of all kinds are avidly collected by jewelry lovers worldwide. With so many varieties on the market, there really is something to fit every age and style of collector. A rare type of pearl gaining worldwide recognition is the melo pearl.

In the strictest sense, they are not true pearls due to their non-nacreous composition, (they are composed of aragonite) yet they are categorized as pearls because they are harvested from the Melo Melo snail or Melo Amorpha, among others in the same way as true pearls. It’s important to note that unlike cultured pearls which comprise virtually all of the commercial periculture industry, melos are always natural, never cultured. Since these snails are also considered a culinary delicacy, they are scrutinized thoroughly by in-the know diners just in case.

Their color and rarity make them objects of desire for pearl connoisseurs and collectors of hard to acquire gemstones. They haven’t always been in the public eye, but the discovery of what is called the world’s largest melo pearl, nearly the size of a ping-pong ball, has edged this beauty to the forefront.

Melo pearls are orange, peachy pink, pale coral and so on. Those colors are favored for their ultra feminine appeal and one or more of those tones will compliment any woman’s complexion, making them truly coveted. Top-notch designer K. Brunini makes a perfect statement with her one-off couture melo ring.