Half-Pearls: Parts of pearls and seed pearls that were popular in making designs of flowers and scrolls starting about 1890, sometimes mingled with coloured gemstones. Popular for many decades and not always an aid for circa dating.
Blister pearls: Sometimes pearls grow from the side of the shell resulting in half-pearls, which are not hollow.
Small half-pearls were produced by either sawing a semi-round pearl in half or cut out of the mother-of-pearl shells. In the late 19th century they were used extensively do decorate watch cases and other jewelry.
Shells not worthy of a second operation are set aside for the production of mabes, or half-pearls, and returned to the water for about a year.
 See also: Jewel, Surface, Water, Size, Table
  
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