Mother of pearl (or nacre) is not an actual pearl, but rather the pearly inner layer found within certain types of mollusc shells.
The unique lustre of pearls and mother of pearls have made them cherished throughout history.
Lustrous mother of pearl pieces has historically been used to create intricate inlay work.
Creating the colourful mother of pearl rainbow mosaic charm requires more than 18 different steps.
Mother of Pearl has a mesmerizing, almost holographic look.
Origin
Mother of pearl forms naturally inside the shells of pearl producing molluscs. It is found all over the world and is collected from molluscs in the wild, as well as from cultivated oysters. The mother of pearl used in Pandora jewellery originates from pearl oysters farmed at seawater pearl farms in Indonesia.
NAME
Pearls are created from layers and layers of nacre. Mother of pearl essentially gives life to the pearl, thus the reasoning behind its name.
APPEARANCE
Virtually any colour, often light in tone, with pearly lustre and often an iridescent effect.
Processing
Besides carved and faceted varieties, the mother of pearl used in Pandora jewellery has been cut and polished only.
DURABILITY
Mother of pearl has a hardness of 3.5-4.0 on the Mohs scale. It is rated as fair toughness and is reasonably durable, but it is particularly susceptible to attack by acids and damage from ultrasonic cleaning and is sensitive to solvents.
CARE
Mother of pearl is a delicate material that needs to be treated carefully. Rough surfaces may cause scratching or chipping. Jewellery should be stored separately in a protective box or pouch. Direct sunlight and drier climates may dry out mother of pearl and create cracks. Wearing mother of pearl is one of the best ways of caring for it, as contact with natural skin oils help maintain the lustre of the gem. Clean using a soft cloth dampened in lukewarm, soapy water and wipe the surface gently.