Glacier Pearle Jewelry
What is Glacier Pearle Jewelry?
What is Abalone?
What are other names for Abalone Shell?
- paua shell
- mollusk shell
- ear shell
- pawa shell
- ormer shell
- pāua shell
- perlemoen ('mother-of-pearl') shell
- sea-ear shell
- mollusc shell
What color is Abalone Shell?
Abalone comes in a kaleidoscope of colors. The iridescent shell can produce magnificent colors that range from purple and blue to green and yellow to orange and pink. The full list of shell colors are as follows:
- dull brick-red
- dull green to reddish brown
- dark blue to black
- olive green to reddish brown
- reddish brown
- mottled greenish brown with scattered white & blue
- mottled greenish with red-white or brownish spotting
- brick red with white blue & green mottlings
How is Abalone Shell jewelry made?
Our abalone jewelry is hand crafted by skilled artisans. These artists choose only he finest quality abalone and then begin the laborious task of removing the thick outer crust to reveal the natural beauty that lies within. The shells are hand polished and carved to create this beautiful Glacier Pearle jewelry. For each piece of jewelry specific pieces of abalone shell need to be selected to achieve the best results. Once selected then each piece is set in place by hand. An extra step goes into our earrings in that each pair needs to be meticulously hand matched so that each earring complements the other. There's a lot of work that goes into this high quality jewelry.
How is Abalone Shell jewelry unique?
Since every Abalone Shell itself is unique, no two pieces of jewelry can be the same. Each Abalone Shell has a unique pattern of twisted swirling colors. Your piece of Abalone Shell jewelry is a one of a kind! Each product will vary in color and pattern to some degree.
Where is abalone found?
Abalone are found in cold waters. The majority are found in Western North America, South Africa, Australia, Japan, and off the coast of New Zealand. Most of our abalone comes from New Zealand.
Is Abalone Shell for jewelry legal?
Wild populations of abalone have decreased in the resent years because of over fishing, poaching and other environmental factors. Thus, Glacier Pearle jewelry made from the abalone shell is government regulated and managed. For our jewelry, no wild abalone of any kind are used. All of our abalone shell is a by-product of a highly regulated sustainable food fishery. If we did not use the shell for our jewelry it would be thrown into a land fill.
Is abalone jewelry expensive?
Abalone jewelry is relatively inexpensive. You can find very nice abalone jewelry as low as $15.00-$40.00 CAD. Depending on the artisan and designer, abalone jewelry can be quite valuable. An example of prices can be seen here.