Mother of Pearl Figurehead Cameo Earrings

Mother of pearl is a nacre cut from the shell of the pinctada maxima pearl oyster—like all pearls, pinctada maxima pearls are formed when an irritant becomes trapped in a mollusk. The mollusk secretes a fluid, called nacre, which coats the irritant layer upon layer until a pearl is formed. Before the use of plastics one, of the main uses for mother of pearl was buttons: nowadays, this iridescent nacre is beloved for its use in fine jewelry in a variety of shades from inky silver to translucent white.
MOHs Hardness: 3.5
Origins: Australia south sea
Care: Keep mother of pearl jewelry away from chemicals: contact with cosmetics, oils, acids, etc., can discolor or ruin the texture of pearls. To clean your mother of pearl jewelry, use warm water with mild soap. Do not use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.