Mother of pearl jewellery
What is mother of pearl, how is it different from pearls and how can it be used for affordable yet stunning jewellery? Read on to find out more.
Have you ever found a shell washed up on the beach and seen the iridescent layer inside? That is nacre, which is made by the shellfish to protect against parasites and irritants. Nacre is the same material that makes pearls. Nacre deposited inside a shell is also called mother of pearl. Not all shells contain nacre but it is found in pearl shells, abalone and some other types of shells like trochus shells.
This is what mother of pearl looks like when shaped into a pendant:
You can see the beautiful interplay of colours.
Whilst a pearl may be separate from the shell, mother of pearl is actually a part of the shell itself.
Mother of pearl is an interesting material. Although it is soft and can be easily scratched, it is also very tough. It is made up of layers of aragonite, a form of calcium carbonate, which is brittle combined with an organic matrix made of biopolymers, which are like silk proteins. This combination makes mother of pearl a composite material (similar to how carbon fibre or fiberglass is a composite) and gives it strength and resilience.
Mother of pearl is taken by fishing for the shells, and the whole shell can be used. Mother of pearl used to be used for buttons, but now the most common use is for jewellery and as inlays in furniture or tiles.
Since pearls need to be farmed and looked after while mother of pearl can be gathered by simply harvesting the shells and shaping them, mother of pearl is very reasonably priced. You can buy a large and distinctive mother of pearl pendant at a very reasonable price.
When buying mother of pearl jewellery for a pendant, look for a piece that shows plenty of colour. White mother of pearl that shows a very subtle iridescence, while paua shell jewellery shows rich and beautiful blues, greens and purples. Paua shells are found in New Zealand and shaped into beautiful jewellery.
Mother of pearl is also suitable for cuff links, tie pins and other male jewellery.
Since mother of pearl jewellery is very reasonably priced for a beautiful product from nature, it is often sold as costume jewellery. Nevertheless, to get the right look, you should still look for quality mountings that complement the piece and that add class. For example, a pendant may be set on a sterling silver or gold chain or on a neoprene necklace.
When you are buying a female watch, you may want to consider a white mother of pearl face. It adds a distinctive and classy look to a timepiece while being very understated and subtle.
Mother of pearl is very soft, so you should store it separately from other jewels to avoid scratching it. If you need to clean it, do so very gently with a soft cloth and soap and wash with clean water and dry it.
Mother of pearl gives a distinctive, bold look with the individuality that comes from a completely natural material without costing too much.
Tags: jewellery, Mother of pearl, pearl