Abalone Pearls; Rare Iridescent Treasures of the Sea
The abalone, a marine gastropod or sea snail belonging to the genus Haliotis, is characterized by its distinctive ear-shaped shell adorned with a row of holes along the outer edge. This unique shell formation has earned it the nickname "ear shells" in reference to its Latin name and shape.
Similar to other marine gastropods, abalone can produce pearls, although natural abalone pearls are exceptionally rare. These pearls exhibit hues that mirror the color of the shell's interior, which can range from cream, blue, and green to red and purple. The diverse colors of abalone pearls are influenced by the marine organisms they consume. Among these pearls, those displaying iridescent shades of blue, violet, and green are highly coveted. Spherical and symmetrical abalone pearls are exceptionally scarce, with most natural abalone pearls taking on a horn-like shape.
There are around one hundred species of abalone. The interior of some, including Haliotis rufescens, (red abalone) and particularly Haliotis iris (also called "paua, blackfoot paua or rainbow abalone), have a colorful iridescence. The inner shell coating is made of nacre and is often used for making mother-of-pearl ornaments. In fact, abalone mother-of-pearl has been used for thousands of years, evidence of which has been found in archeological sites. The Maori of New Zealand have used abalone mother-of-pearl in their traditional art for centuries, and polished abalone shells and abalone mother-of-pearl ornaments are available as souvenirs in New Zealand.
Haliotis rufescens, (the red abalone) that is native to the Pacific Coast, is the largest species of abalone in the world and can grow up to a foot long. Abalones from this region of the world have known to yield large pearls. According to the Guinness World Records, the largest abalone pearl in the world is a 718.50-carat iridescent baroque, horn-shaped abalone pearl. It measures 14 by 8 cm. The pearl was found by American, Dat Vi Truong, in Mendocino, California, in 2010. Wesley Rankin's "Big Pink" 469.13-carat baroque abalone pearl, also from California, held the previous record. Pacific abalone pearls have been treasured and traded for thousands of years by Native American tribes.
Cultivating abalone pearls is a challenging process due to the delicate nature of abalones. These creatures are highly sensitive, making them unsuitable for handling. They are also susceptible to temperature changes and can perish if their flesh is pierced. As a result, the successful cultivation of blister pearls, rather than complete spherical pearls, has been more achievable. Consequently, cultured abalone pearls are typically half-spheres, known as "mabé pearls" or "half-pearls." Some of these pearls are crafted with a mother-of-pearl backing and polished to enhance their luster. It is important to handle assembled abalone pearls with care in jewelry to prevent layer separation. Blister abalone pearls, which are attached to the inside of the shell, have been successfully cultured in Paua, New Zealand, California, USA, and Japan.
Haliotis gigantea (giant abalone, awabi or Siebold's abalone) come from the waters that surround Japan and Korea. The meat of abalone is a delicacy in Japan and many other parts of the world, especially China and Hong Kong, and is believed to have medicinal properties and aphrodisiac effects. Japan has exported dried abalone to China since the Qing Dynasty. In Japan and China, abalone is believed to be good for the eyes. It has been highly prized for centuries. The samurai of Japan believed that abalone was revitalizing.
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| Silver and Abalone Shell Necklace Pendant |
The "ama" (women of the sea) are Japanese ladies who traditionally free-dive in cold water to depths up to 25 meters and hold their breath for up to 2 minutes at a time to collect sea creatures. The practice dates back at least 1,000 years, but both the abalone and the ama divers are now in decline. There are very few of these incredible women in existence today and, not surprisingly, some of them are elderly. Their healthy lifestyle has enabled them to live for many years. However, these senior citizens are not frail, and many continue to collect abalone, seaweed and other marine treasures for up to 2 hours per day. Though the ama mainly harvest edible items, some have been lucky enough to also find pearls, which, along with Mikimoto Kokichi's use of ama divers has resulted in the romantic name "pearl divers".
The abalone is treasured by the ama and many other people all over the globe in its entirety. It provides luxurious sustenance, nutrients, a colorful shell and the ultimate treasure; rare and beautiful, lustrous pearls.
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