If all it took was +48, then they were never best in slot. Merlinic feet can get +55
And Amalric +1 feet has +62 MAB (counting +10 from set bonus) with +11 Magic Damage on top of that. Even +72 MAB actually if you don't use anything else from Amalric other than hands+1.
What interesting me the most are legs now.
Regal earring with Merlinic legs is around
50 MAB, 50 macc 13 Magic Damage and 60+ INT
Static earring with Amalric +1 legs is
80 MAB (60 base and activating set bonus for +20 more), 20 macc and 40 INT
First option is a lot more MACC, but 30 less MAB (20 less if you also use Amalric +1 feet). 20INT and 13Magic damage probably makes up for less mab on Helixes? No idea about other nukes tho. 2nd set also require much better and harder to get augment on merlinic body (you need +10 Magic Burst on body instead of only +15 shared between body and legs).