14. Nacre
There’s no accessory quite as sophisticated as a string of pearls embellishing your little black dress. These iridescent gemstones are not just produced within an oyster or mollusc, but also take on theiropalescence from these sea creatures as well. Oysters and molluscs produce a substance known as nacre, colloquially known as “mother of pearl”, on the inner shell layer of their bodies. It is this organic-inorganic composite material of nacre that coats the outer layer of the pearl, leaving it protected, strong and iridescent.
