Abalone is an attractive shell from a mollusc known as Paua. Abalone possesses all the colours of a rainbow and is widely used for decorative jewellery. The blue to green iridescent colour play is captivating and each shell is unique in it’s markings and colour variations. Abalone has been referred to as ‘sea opal’ because of the resemblance to the colour effects seen in opal. It has been used as a material for jewellery, an inlay material, flatware handles and small decorative objects.
Abalone shells are mainly found in New Zealand and the USA. Abalone has been used as a material for jewellery, an inlay material, flatware handles and small decorative objects.
