Mother of Pearl with its luminous color and beautiful sheen is a mesmerizing material which looks unlike any other gemstone. It adds great interest to many jewelry pieces and lends them a one-of-a-kind, show-stopper appeal.
But what is Mother of Pearl and is it different from pearls?
A fascinating material, it also forms differently than other gemstones or precious metals which are normally created in dark rocks under great pressure. Instead, Mother of Pearl forms within the cosy confides of mollusk shells in the beautiful ocean. It develops as a protection for the precious contents inside the shell.
This article aims to cover everything you may want to know about this beautiful material, admired from ancient cultures to the present day.
Credit: Depositphotos
What is Mother of Pearl?
What is known as Mother of pearl is the inner lining that is formed in certain types of mollusk shells like pearl oysters - its correct name being called "nacre".
This inner nacre coating of the shell has an irridescent, luminous sheen which seems to contain so many colours.
Its wonderful appearance just adds to the mystery and unique qualities of this organic substance.
Because the appearance of the nacre resembles real pearls, as well as being formed in the same shells that produce pearls, and also having similar names, it is very easy to confuse the two - mother-of-pearl and pearl - and there is a popular belief that they are the same thing, but they aren't.
Mother of Pearl: How Is It Formed?
Certain mollusks such as pearl oysters, abalone or freshwater mussels secrete a unique material inside their shell to protect them, formed in thin layers, called nacre.
These very hard, very thin and beautifully smooth layers form formidable protections for the precious sea creature inside the shell.
It is exquisite to look at, feels smooth and contains a multitude of colors - hence is perfect for adorning jewelry and artwork.
We wonder if theses protective qualities of the nacre layer, gives this material the wonderful name of mother-of-pearl?
You can probably guess then, that the meaning given to the qualities of mother-of-pearl is about protecting and soothing tension and anxiety.
Properties of Mother Of Pearl
The shell lining, called nacre, is a calcium carbonate material called aragonite, which forms in hexagonal-shaped plates in the inner shell. Naturally, calcium carbonate forms aragonite crystals, and conchiolin, a type of protein, weaves these aragonite plates together.
Because of the thin plates of nacre, it creates an amazing array of colours. Thus mother-of-pearl jewellery is exquisite to look at and compliments most skin tones and outfits.
The natural colour of mother-of-pearl looks elegant and expensive and will go with anything.
How is Mother of Pearl Different from Pearls?
It's easy to think that mother-of-pearl and pearls are the same thing, but although mollusks produce both and they contain the same material, they form in different ways.
Mother of pearl is the inner layer of mollusk shells, whilst pearls are spherical. The mollusk lays down nacre layers around foreign irritants, such as a grain of sand, inside the shell, thus forming a sphere in a pearl.
The laying down of flat aragonite platelets result in mother-of-pearl on the inner lining of the shell and is therefore flat.
How is Mother of Pearl Different from Gemstone Jewellery?
Other gems form deep inside the earth in the rocks via a build-up of crystals. After extraction, they cut and polish the gems to the desired shape for jewelry.
Mother of pearl appearance differs greatly from a gemstone as it forms a layer with a luminous, milky, slightly multi-colored appearance.
Craftspeople use it as a flat, visually attractive backing, inlay, or highlight in jewelry. In a collection of mother-of-pearl jewelry or objects, every single piece will look different.
Appearance and Iridescence
Like opal, the iridescence of mother-of-pearl is quite exquisite and no two pieces in a collection are alike.
This appearance looks quite stunning on the dial of a watch, reflecting different colors as you hold your watch at different angles.
Its milky hues have led to loose comparisons with moonstone, the June birthstone.
History of Use of Mother of Pearl
For centuries, many cultures have revered mother-of-pearl for its beauty and used it in artwork and jewelry, from the Shang and Ming dynasties in China to Ancient Egypt, because of the wonderful colors of its nacre-lined shells. The ancient Egyptians used in many items of dress and their artwork and decor.
People popularly used mother-of-pearl in clothing as buttons or buckles on belts, artefacts, pendants, and rings in times past.
Different Uses of Mother of Pearl
Credit: Depositphotos
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