When people look at Abalone and Mother of Pearl, they may see that the two look different but do not understand how different they are.
Abalone is a gastropod mollusk or a kind of marine snail. The mother of pearl is also considered a mollusk but a different kind of organism. They both look very different in that Abalone will have a very iridescent look, and the mother of pearl can come in various colors. Abalone is found in the ocean, whereas mother of pearl is found in marine and freshwater.
In the Oxford dictionary, the terms mother of pearl is defined as:
“a smooth shining iridescent substance forming the inner layer of the shell of some mollusks, especially oysters and abalones, used in ornamentation.”
Oxford Dictionary
At Mondoro, we consider Abalone to be a mother of pearl technique. But even if Abalone is usually categorized as a mother of pearl, they are not the same and have some differences.
What Is Abalone?
Abalone is a large marine gastropod mollusk or marine organism; essentially, they are considered a marine snail. The abalone meat can be eaten.
The abalone marine life is usually found in the cold waters of New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and the west coast of North America. Abalone can vary from 20 mm (0.8 inches) to 30 cm (12 inches), depending on the species and marine life.
It is the shell of the Abalone that is used for home decor or home furniture decoration. The shell of the Abalone is usually a convex shell that is rounded to oval in shape and can be arched or flattened areas.
The color of the shells gives a lovely iridescent color that can change according to the light reflected from it.
The shell of the Abalone is very strong and tough. One of the natural beauties of the shell is the iridescent color it gives off when cut and polished to make home decor or home furnishing products.
What Is Mother Of Pearl Or Nacre?
Mother of Pearl, also known as Nacre, is a material produced by mollusks as an inner shell layer. The inner pearl layer or mother of pearl is found in the inner mollusk shells.
When most people think of the mother of pearls, they think of pearls used for jewelry. They are essentially the same material, but a pearl was formed when a piece of sand got in the shell and irritated the mollusk so that a pearl was formed around the sand particles.
The Mother of Pearl shells can come in a variety of colors from white, grey, and pink tone colors. It can also be dyed in a variety of colors.
Differences Between Mother Of Pearl And Abalone
Although they are different, the mother of pearl and Abalone can often be lumped as the mother of pearl or Nacre.
To help clarify how the differences between abalone and mother of pearl, here are some of the major differences:
- Type Of Shell – Abalone is a gastropod mollusk or marine organism, considered a marine snail. The mother of pearls is a composite material produced by a mollusk, but a different variety or type of mollusk. It is the pearl inner layer found in shells.
- Shell Differences – One of the significant differences between the Abalone and the Mother of Pearl is that the Abalone is a marine organism. Still, the mother of pearl is the inner layer inside the shell.
- Shell Location – The Abalone is a marine shellfish or animal usually found in colder sea waters. Mother of Pearl can be found in marine or freshwater areas; often, mother of pearl is harvested in what is known as pearl farms.
- Iridescent – the Abalone shell is usually very iridescent compared to the pearl shell’s mother.
- Colors – The mother of pearl shells can come in various colors, from white and grey to pink; we can also dye the mother of pearl shells. The abalone shell is usually used in the natural iridescent color of the shell.
- Cost – Abalone is usually more expensive; first, the meat for Abalone is a delicacy, and Abalone can be harder and more expensive to find. The mother of pearl is usually cheaper as the muscle or the inner part is eaten, and the outer shell is used for the mother of pearl. It is much easier to find mother of pearl shells than Abalone.
- Creating Pearls – Both the mother of pearl and Abalone can create pearls, but their pearls will not be the same. A pearl created from a mother of pearl shell can be white; that is how most people think about pearls. In contrast, the Abalone pearl would have a variety of iridescent colors.
- Toughness – Both abalone and mother of pearl, are considered extremely tough, but the abalone shell is regarded as a tougher surface due to its nature and the way it is formed. Research has shown that abalone shells are 3,000 times more fracture-resistant than a single crystal of calcium carbonate; this means the abalone shell surface is extremely tough.
- Uses – Both abalone and mother of pearl shells can be cut into various shapes to be used for mother of pearl furniture and home decor. Usually, Abalone is cut to cover an entire surface, and the mother of pearl can be cut up to various sizes and shapes to be inlaid into lacquerware or wood.
The Abalone finish and the mother of pearl finish are great for home furniture and home decor products. We love how versatile they are and how they can be used for various products, including furniture, lamps, boxes, trays, and other home accessories.
Mondoro can produce both abalone and mother of pearl products with our highly skilled craftsmen and women in Vietnam. Mother of pearl production is an ancient handicraft production in north Vietnam.
If you are interested in seeing how Mondoro can help you manufacture mother of pearl home decor and home furnishing products – we would love to talk to you to see how we can help you.
Find out more about how Mondoro can help you create, develop, and manufacture excellent home decor and home furniture products – don’t hesitate to contact me, Anita. Check out my email by clicking here or become a part of our community and join our newsletter by clicking here.
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