Pearlescent color – what is it, what does it go with and who does it suit?

Physical and chemical properties

Mother of pearl is calcium carbonate. It consists of many aragonite plates arranged parallel or at different angles, but never touching. This structure explains the presence of iridescence (iridescent iridescence). Mother of pearl dissolves in acids, and under the influence of a blowpipe it turns into powder (calcite powder).

Colors and varieties

Based on color, there are white, gray, blue, green, pink, yellow, brown and purple versions of mother-of-pearl. The color and size of the resulting material depends both on the type of mollusk that produced it and on the composition of the water where it lived.

White mother of pearl

A gift from the Manila clam, a 10-centimeter resident of the Indian Ocean. White mother-of-pearl is common on the market and does not have a very high price.

White mother of pearl

Gray and black mother of pearl

Valuable material due to its rarity and size. Produced by giant clams "Pinna".

Black mother of pearl

Red and pink mother of pearl

Red and pink, and sometimes blue, specimens are produced by small “Ear clams” that live in the Pacific Ocean. Due to its modest size and rich color, their product is used primarily to create jewelry inserts.

Pink mother of pearl

Purple mother of pearl

A rare variety, produced only by Venus clams.

Purple mother of pearl

Blue mother of pearl

It grows in the shells of the Brazilian "Soft-bodied cassis". The rare blue color with interesting patterns increases the price of mother-of-pearl, which is inserted entirely into jewelry.

Blue mother of pearl

Silver, cream and bright white mother of pearl

Such unusual colors are characteristic of the “Turbo” mollusk shells, which reach a size of 22 centimeters. They are used for various purposes, including making boxes from solid shells.

Cream mother of pearl

Rainbow mother of pearl

A very valuable product produced by “Soft-bodied Melangrina”, which has reached the age of 8-10 years. The structure of this mother-of-pearl is distinguished by many very thin scales, which is why it shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow.

Rainbow mother of pearl

History of the mineral

Mother of pearl has been mined for a very long time. Products made from it can be found in a variety of countries. Mentions of its beauty and healing properties are numerous. This is what made him extremely popular among nobles. The most popular were several types of decorative items:

• necklaces;
• vases;
• caskets;
• carved icons.

However, due to the rarity and difficulty of extraction, the mineral was very expensive. Therefore, most often jewelry made from this material belonged to royal families.

Where is mother of pearl mined?

We cannot talk about mother-of-pearl mining as a separate activity. It is mined as an additional product when searching for pearls. We supply ornamental and jewelry materials from/with:

1. Persian Gulf.
2. Red Sea.
3. Coasts of the islands of Sri Lanka and Borneo.
4. Japanese and Philippine archipelagos.
5. Ceylon.

This is interesting!

The state of Oklahoma (USA) is especially distinguished in the extraction of mother-of-pearl. It was there that geologists discovered an ancient deposit that was once a sea. Among the black asphalt limestone, 300-year-old mother-of-pearl was found, produced by prehistoric mollusks and preserved to this day.

The magical properties of mother of pearl

Mother of pearl is born by a living being, it is a means of protecting it from various external aggressors, and therefore symbolizes life in general, renewal and security.

According to one legend, Cleopatra, wanting to impress Caesar, took a mother-of-pearl bead from one earring, dissolved it in wine and drank the resulting, in her words, “the elixir of eternal youth.”

This, of course, is just a beautiful legend, since mother of pearl dissolves only in acids (well, or Cleopatra knew some kind of trick), but the rejuvenating properties of the “mother of pearls” have been known for a long time. People also believe that the stone can prolong life.

Magicians note that mother of pearl gives people luck, insight, independence, confidence and irresistibility. The iridescent stone also protects its owner from enemies, both from physical and energy attacks from them.

Mother of pearl completely changes the life and destiny of its owner, removing all the bad from it and attracting the good. It renews the person himself, making him bolder, more purposeful and more active. It helps to reveal hidden talents and abilities, including those of a magical nature.

It strengthens any relationship - business, friendly, romantic. As a result, a person easily moves up the career ladder, feels the support of his best friends, is never left alone and is happily married.

Medicinal properties

Mother of pearl pendant

The main medicinal properties of mother-of-pearl are renewal, rejuvenation and restoration of body functions.

In ancient times, powdered mother-of-pearl was used as an antiseptic for wounds; a little later, healers sold it as a cure for all diseases. Today, many cosmetic companies use pearl dust in the production of anti-aging and cleansing creams.

Modern lithotherapists believe that mother of pearl has a complex effect on the body:

• Helps cleanse and renew blood vessels.
• Helps the body rehabilitate itself after serious and not so serious illnesses.
• Strengthens weakened immunity, improves body tone.
• Acts as a mild sedative.
• Helps cleanse the skin and improve its elasticity.
• Makes a person more cheerful and active.
• Reduces the intensity of pain of various types.

Black mother of pearl has a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system and respiratory system. It also enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy in the fight against cancer cells.

Lithotherapists advise:

• For migraines and other headaches, wear pearl hairpins or tiaras, and use combs to comb your hair.
• To solve problems with the cardiovascular system, enhance the effect of traditional medicine by wearing beads or brooches.
• Heal hearing loss and improve vision with mother-of-pearl earrings.

Talismans and amulets

Mother of pearl bracelet

All kinds of talismans, amulets, amulets and magical paraphernalia are made from mother-of-pearl, just like from pearls. These two jewels have the same composition, origin and properties. Pearls, due to their purity, rarity and shape, are slightly more powerful than mother of pearl. But the “mother of pearls” is capable of much:

1. White mother of pearl soothes and renews.
2. Pink - symbolizes romance and sensuality, and also serves as a talisman for travelers.
3. Brown or coffee shade is an amulet for careerists.
4. Black is a friend of all magicians, especially soothsayers.

There is a belief that water charged in a bowl made of black mother-of-pearl has life-giving powers.

Parents, if they give their children a mother-of-pearl talisman, will provide them with protection from the evil eye and other negative energy. Spouses will refresh their feelings, become more attentive, caring and gentle towards each other.

The ancient Chinese and Japanese carved various images of gods, animals, in particular dragons, hieroglyphs and other symbols right inside shells on mother-of-pearl. They believed that such talismans bring good luck and give all kinds of benefits, as well as charge them with positivity and protect against dark entities.

As for the magic of specific mother-of-pearl jewelry, then:

• Women need earrings to increase self-esteem and solve problems.
• Beads or individual beads help travelers avoid troubles on the road.
• Cufflinks will help men improve their personal lives and build a career, and will also “bring out all their best qualities.”
• The necklace enhances women's intuition, and sometimes contributes to the manifestation of the gift of prediction.
• Mother of pearl in silver (especially brown) helps a person get out of any difficult life situations without loss.
• Shells are a talisman for sailors and also attract financial well-being.

This is interesting!

The symbol of the famous Shell company is the mother-of-pearl shell. This is due to the fact that the corporation made its initial capital from oil production in the Persian Gulf, that is, exactly where pearls and mother-of-pearl have long been mined.

Products and jewelry made of mother-of-pearl

Mother of pearl is much cheaper than pearls, although it is just as beautiful and has the same properties. Jewelry with it is in great demand on the jewelry market, although their cost varies greatly. For example, a famous jewelry brand produces:

1. Gold rings with mother-of-pearl inserts, complemented by other gems - 450-500 dollars, earrings - 120-1000, pendants - 60-650, brooches - 300-350 dollars.
2. Silver rings - 30-50 dollars, earrings - 45-100, pendants - 15-35, bracelets - 30-75 dollars.

The fashion for mother-of-pearl spread from Southeast Asia, where everything is decorated with it - dishes, furniture, boxes, fans, musical instruments and even weapons.

Mother of pearl ring

At the crafts fair you can purchase handmade jewelry and souvenirs made from mother of pearl, for example:

1. Earrings made of silver or metal with mother-of-pearl inserts for $20-50.
2. Souvenirs in the form of mother-of-pearl flowers – 5-20 dollars.
3. Mother of pearl in plates, beads or tumbling.
4. Necklace and bracelet set – $30-100.

Mother-of-pearl has long been used to decorate clothing, household utensils, and various valuable items - icons, holy books, ceremonial cuirasses, insignia, and cups.

Today you can also find mother-of-pearl products, such as spoons intended for tasting caviar. It is believed that the contact of eggs with metal spoils their taste, and with mother-of-pearl, on the contrary, improves it. Precious boxes for storing the Koran, made by Arab craftsmen, are very popular among Muslims. The material used is juniper and Arabian palms, and mother of pearl is used for decoration.

This is interesting!

There are many mother-of-pearl treasures on display in museums around the world. Here is a very short list of examples:

1. A marching altar depicting the Passion of Christ, made in 1520 in Augsburg.
2. A powder flask created in 1750 from a single sea snail shell.
3. A fragment of the interior of Tolkapı, the main palace of the Ottoman Empire, dating back to the 18th century.
4. The Hermitage houses a mother-of-pearl collection of hundreds of items belonging to Empress Catherine the Great.

Price

Mother of pearl costs significantly less than pearls. The minimum price for pressed mother-of-pearl beads or bracelets is only 1,000 rubles.

The cost of large items in yellow gold is about 20,000 rubles. Necklaces most often include multiple stones, so their prices can vary significantly. Their cost usually starts from 5,000 rubles.

How to distinguish an original from a fake

Antique mother-of-pearl box

It is impossible to distinguish natural mother-of-pearl from artificial one with the naked eye. In this case, you must be guided by the information provided in the product certificate.

The cheapest fakes are made of painted plastic, while slightly more expensive ones are made of glass mixed with elements of bleak fish scales. It is quite possible to distinguish such imitations yourself by the following characteristics:

• Temperature and thermal conductivity. Natural mother of pearl, unlike its fakes, will be cool and will not heat up for a long time.
• Structure. If you move a stone across your lips, you can feel its roughness and the presence of grooves. Glass and plastic trinkets will be smooth.
• Hardness and fragility. The needle, with a slight pressure, will not leave scratches on natural jewelry. A stronger or sharper impact will lead to chipping (not worth checking, but still).

Compatibility with Zodiac signs

Mother of pearl matches most zodiac signs. It has a particularly strong effect on Aquarius, Cancer and Pisces. It makes them calm and self-confident, increases perseverance and allows them to achieve material heights.

The stone has soft energy, so it is not capable of causing harm to the owner. However, it does not have any effect on Gemini. Therefore, it is better for representatives of this zodiac sign to choose another mineral as a talisman or amulet.

With other stones

In this regard, the stone is identical to pearls. It pairs well with minerals such as moonstone and aquamarine. It can also be worn with:

• jasper;
• emerald;
• opal;
• amethyst;
• rock crystal.

Important information

You cannot combine mother-of-pearl with malachite, sardonyx, beryl and marcasite.

Artificial mother of pearl

Natural mother of pearl, grown in shells without any human intervention, is difficult to find on the market. As a rule, these are elite products stored in museums and private collections. Most often, stores offer artificially grown mother of pearl. This is when the process of its formation occurs in exactly the same way and under the same conditions, but in specially equipped reservoirs and under strict human control. Or rather, this is how pearls are grown. Mother of pearl, located on the walls of the shell, is its constant companion. Plates and stones obtained using this method are not considered fake. They have the same properties as “gifts of nature.”

There is another type of mother-of-pearl - artificial. Scientists have learned to reproduce the structure of mother-of-pearl in laboratory conditions. It is as beautiful as the real thing, but it has no healing or magical properties at all.

This is interesting!

In 2012, laboratory scientists at the University of Cambridge created an artificial analogue of mother-of-pearl, practically no different from the real thing. There was an article about this in New Scientist magazine. And in 2014, this mother-of-pearl technology was used to create unbreakable glass, which is 200 times stronger than ordinary glass.

A little about technology

To ideally get the desired result, you still need to color your hair only in a good salon and only with high-quality dyes. A highly qualified master will be able to achieve this. To obtain the desired shade, coloring must be carried out in two stages. First: coloring with the main color. Second: toning. A translucent pearlescent color is applied to the main tone. But recently, modern global brands have made this task somewhat easier for ladies by starting to produce hair dyes with pearl shine.

How to care for stone

Earrings made of milky mother of pearl

Mother of pearl is quite capricious in terms of care. It is not too hard and quite fragile, so under sudden mechanical stress it can simply crack.

Mother of pearl is also afraid of high temperatures and dryness. From the first, it can collapse, and in the absence of humidity, it can lose its iridescence. It should be kept away from heating appliances and other heat sources, and also taken out of the box more often so that the stone can absorb moisture from the air and rinse with water.

Chemicals are also harmful to mother-of-pearl jewelry - this must be taken into account when wearing and cleaning:

• Wear them only after applying cosmetics and perfumes.
• Clean with plain water and a soft cloth.
• Use potato juice or starch mixture to restore shine.

DIY mother-of-pearl masterpieces

There are two ways to make your own jewelry or other products from mother-of-pearl:

1. Buy blanks online or at a craft supply store.
2. Treat the sink yourself.

The first method is accessible even to beginners. Any assortment, affordable price, included mosaic patterns, ideas or sketches of jewelry for every taste.

The second method is more difficult. It is chosen by those who want to create a work with their own hands from the first step and have the material, that is, sea shells. However, to process the sink you need a special tool. The mineral is strong, but the shell in which it is enclosed is very fragile. Therefore, the work is unhurried, requiring accuracy and caution.

Process the shell as follows:

• the top layer of the shell is removed with a grindstone;
• to cut out a product from a shell, its edges are cut out with a special steel file;
• the mother-of-pearl is ground and smoothed with a graver and scraper;
• a hole for threading is created with a drill with a rounded tip;
• polished with a solution containing tripoli with dilute sulfuric acid;
• the polished material is washed with soapy water.

The processed stone shines, iridescently shimmering.

You can make the material colored. For example, black mother of pearl is obtained by immersing the mineral for three days in a solution of silver chloride and ammonia.