What Everybody Ought To Know About Mother Of Pearl - Nacre

A smooth shining iridescent substance forming the inner layer of the shell of some mollusks, especially oysters and abalones, used in ornamentation.

Mother of pearl also known as Nacre, is an organic/inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner shell layer; it also makes up the outer coating of pearls. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent. The outer layer of pearls and the inside layer of pearl oyster and freshwater pearl mussel shells are made of nacre. 

                                

Most of the oysters for the mother-of-pearl supply came from the Red Sea. Today, however, Australia, California, New Zealand and Brazil are the main exporters.

                                 

Mother of Pearl is Widely used for pearl buttons especially during the 1900s, Nacre has been used for centuries for a variety of decorative purposes. Both black and white nacre are used for architectural purposes. The natural nacre may be artificially tinted to almost any color. Nacre sheets may be used on interior floors, exterior and interior walls, countertops, doors and ceilings. Mother of pearl buttons are used in clothing either for functional or decorative purpose.they are also used in jewellery. 

                                       

Nacre is also used to decorate watches, knives, guns and jewellery. Nacre inlay is often used for music keys and other decorative motifs on musical instruments. 

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ARTICLE BY

Keerthana Nayak  K

Jewellery Instructor