Mother of Pearl
What is the Mother of pearl?
Mother of pearl is the inner part of the shell; the best quality comes from the seas of the southern hemisphere.
In the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I gave the name to this shiny material that distinguishes the inside of the pearly shell.Its name alludes to the formation of the pearl born and formed inside a shell, seen as a mother.
Mother of pearl has been known since ancient times as an ornamental material for jewelry, but it is also used to create small sculptures.
Mother of Pearl in Nature
Mother of pearl is not a stone but an organic substance found inside some mollusks.
In nature, it is a protective layer against the possible penetration of harmful substances inside the shell, as an ideal barrier for the birth of the pearl. Mother of pearl is not present in all shells. Some have a fully formed interior much appreciated for the craftsmanship of precious objects.
The "Pinctada Margaritifera" is the shell from which comes the best quality used for jewelry. In particular, the mother of pearl for jewelry must have an excellent whitish iridescence, being in nature of various colors that cross with green and brown.
What is the Mother of pearl?
Mother of pearl is the inner part of the shell; the best quality comes from the seas of the southern hemisphere.
In the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I gave the name to this shiny material that distinguishes the inside of the pearly shell.Its name alludes to the formation of the pearl born and formed inside a shell, seen as a mother.
Mother of pearl has been known since ancient times as an ornamental material for jewelry, but it is also used to create small sculptures.
Mother of Pearl Quality Factor
Discover the quality factor of the Mother of Pearl
The beauty of Malachite depends on the quality of the raw material highlighted by the master cutter.
We can summarize in 3 points a good quality Mother of Pearl:
Mother of Pearl's best quality is extracted from "Pinctada Margaritifera", a shell from the seas of the southern hemisphere.
In jewelry, Mother of Pearl must have an excellent white color iridescence.
The cut gem must not have any impurities, such as scratches, on the surface because they would negatively affect the beauty of the jewel on which it is mounted.
The Brief History of Mother of Pearl
In ancient Egypt, Mother of Pearl was very popular because it is an iridescent element, scarce and sensational. In the tomb of Tutankhamun, luxurious furniture decorated with the mother of pearl, a symbol of immortality, was found.
Since ancient times as an ornamental object, this precious material has been used in Chinese civilization, in pre-Columbian civilizations in America, and among the Mesopotamians.
Many meanings have been associated with Mother of Pearl over the centuries. It was connected to the deities with the name "tear of the gods", associating it with the ocean's mysteries. Often a symbol of tranquility and balance, like a jewel to donate before starting each new phase of one's existence, such as a new job, a wedding, or a birth.
Why we love Mother of Pearl
Mother of Pearl Jewels
Mother of pearl is the ideal component for a high-quality and prestigious jewel with its warm iridescent white color. Its delicacy and harmony go well with Gold, creating a jewel of unique refinement.
Mother of pearl was of great use for inlaying in Florentine mosaics, as evidenced by the finds from the glyptic activity of Giocondo Torrini. In the second half of the 1800s, he created splendid "Florentine salesmen" in the wake of the Medici school of the Opificio Delle Pietre Dure in Florence, still today a symbol of great Renaissance testimony.
