HIDDEN GEMS
Technically any mollusc can make pearls, and these non-iridescent alternatives hold an allure all their own.
01: MELO MELO SEA SNAIL
These non-nacreous pearls are produced by the melo melo sea snail when a foreign substance enters the snail’s shell. No one has been able to culture them, so melo melo pearls are extremely rare, and orange ones are prized above the tan and dark brown variants.
Earrings by Hemmerle.
02: CONCH
Another uncultivable pearl is made by conches, and the odds of finding a single acceptable pearl is one in every 10,000 to 20,000 Queen conch molluscs. They’re oval in shape and famous for their soft pink hue, and even one the size of a pea can set you back US$120,000.
Necklace by Tiffany & Co.
03: ABALONE
These fiercely iridescent gems are the most colourful and rare pearls in the world. It can take eight to 10 years to form, and those big enough for jewellery (15mm and above) can be found only in every 500,000 to 900,000 molluscs. Culturing them is difficult because, unlike other molluscs, abalone will bleed to death when nucleated.
Brooch by Paula Crevoshay.
