While many think of mother of pearl something that is used primarily on costume jewelry, in fact it is highly sought after especially if the jewelry made from it is either rare or prime quality. Mother of pearl has been used for hundreds of years in making jewelry such as the mother of pearl ring, buttons and in decorating firearms and musical instruments. There are many different grades and types of mother of pearl, with some very rare and therefore quite costly. Pink mother of pearl is a favorite to use amongst jewelry designers worldwide.
Mother of pearl is very closely related to the pearl. It is formed on the inside of the shells of bi-valve fresh and salt-water mollusks, such as oysters and abalone. It is found all over the world, with Australia being a major producer, along with Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. They are also found in the seas around Japan, and in the South Pacific waters. The formation of mother of pearl is a response to any irritants than enter the shells of these mollusks and is made from the same substances that are used to build the mollusk’s outer shell. It is in the formation, when the quality of the mother of pearl is determined.
The mollusk secretes calcium carbonate and a protein that binds the calcium carbonate crystals together. Regularity of crystals and the number of layers of the substance produced gives the mother of pearl (and any pearls that are formed as a result) lusters. Luster refers to the radiance of the light that is reflected off the mother of pearl, frequently not just off the surface but also off inner pearls. Mother of pearl is very lustrous, reflecting not just one color but oftentimes many gradients of color. This, along with the iridescence, or the rainbow effect on the surface of the shell, is the beauty of mother of pearl, and ultimately what determines the worth of the mother of pearl. Different mollusks produce slightly different tones of color, ranging from white to an almost black color. A rainbow lipped or black lipped mollusk produces darker colored mother of pearl. A white lipped mollusk produces a lighter color mother of pearl. For example, the common abalone oyster produces mother of pearl produces turquoise, green, cream and the famous rose shades. The grey or green mother of Pearl produced by black lipped oysters commonly found in the Pacific is the most expensive and in demand.
Mother of pearl rings are beautiful pieces of jewelry, suitable to be worn for any occasion whether casual or formal. More often than not, it is set in Sterling Silver, as this is the best metal for bringing out the rainbow colors of these organic gems. A casual silver mother of pearl ring is usually made from bright colored mother of pearl, set in geometric designs. More simple traditional styles are often also sold; these rings do not have intricate designs and usually have one mother of pearl gem set in silver. Designer rings often feature more intricate designs, often using more than one mother of pearl gem to adorn it. You can also find classic mother of pearl rings set in gold, though certain hues and colors naturally look better with the color of yellow gold than others. For example, the darker shades, such as the grays, browns and greens usually suit the yellow color of gold bands well. White or light mother of pearl set in a yellow gold band, surrounded by tiny diamonds also looks very stunning. You can also find some amazing designs made out of mother of pearl, such as shaping different shades into a flower for example, that also look fantastic on a gold band. Alternatively, white gold can be used and in that case, any design that looks great in silver would also look good.
A popular favorite among women is the pink mother of pearl ring. There are various shades of pink to choose from ranging from the almost imperceptibly soft pink to the bolder brighter pink colors or the almost brownish pink gem. A long time symbol of femininity, the very delicate nature of mother of pearl in pink shades, adds softness to any woman’s hand that it adorns.
Any mother of pearls ring offers a refreshing look, with a difference! A classic mother of pearl ring, such as an engagement or eternity ring, is often set in white gold with surrounding diamonds or other precious stones. They are also usually made with the more expensive, less common types of mother of pearl with the black gem often being used. While named black, the gem itself is not actually black but is rather a very deep, radiant opalescent sheen that reflects shades of dark red, green or blue evenly dispersed over the entire surface of the gem.