Mother of pearl: properties and colors, meaning and use of the stone

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

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.

Mineral deposits and mining

Mother of pearl as a stone is not specifically sought for, but is mined along with pearls. And not from the earth’s firmament, its deposits are the water depths.

We recommend reading: Aventurine - noble and healing quartz for the heart

The main addresses for mineral extraction are the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the islands of Borneo, Ceylon, the Atlantic coast of Canada and the USA, the Philippines, and Japan.

Due to “pearl fevers,” freshwater pearl mussels almost disappeared from the world, surviving only in northern Europe and Russia. The most famous example is the boom that broke out at the beginning of the 20th century in the Mississippi Basin (USA). For several years in a row, 35 thousand tons were caught from the river annually, after which most pearl mollusks were included in the Red Book.

The development of technology has not in any way affected the method of extracting the stone - divers still extract mother-of-pearl from the bottom.

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.

History and origin

Mother-of-pearl inlay is found in Egyptian pyramids; a seven-thousand-year-old necklace made of this mineral, made by Mesopotamian craftsmen, was found in modern Iraq.

Incredible stones of the “mother of pearls”

In the East, the favorite was the white variety of stone.

It was believed that mother of pearl is a mineral of such power that it can easily teach the owner to recognize people’s thoughts. No wonder the eccentric Roman dictator Nero ordered the walls of his residence to be covered with iridescent plates.

Aesculapians of the ancient world used the powder as an antiseptic for wounds. This was its main meaning for a person of that time, when countries were constantly at war with each other.

Medieval healers made pearl dust the basis of tinctures and potions. The mineral was used to decorate temple interiors and utensils. However, the stone played a cruel joke on many clergy in Europe. Having come up with the idea of ​​selling weightless particles scraped from shells as “angel feathers,” they quickly became rich. After which they renounced their rank, becoming laymen.

A curiosity from the East captivated the Russian and European nobility at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries. Iridescent tabletops of dressing tables, snuff boxes, and boxes decorated boudoirs and offices.

Antique mother-of-pearl box

Maria Stuart assembled a complete set of mineral accessories. The Hermitage keeps the mother-of-pearl collection of the Russian empress Catherine the Great, hundreds of copies.

Many people identify mother-of-pearl with pearls. But pearls appear when a foreign object gets inside the pearl shell. If nothing penetrates the valves, the secretion produced by the mollusk grows on the walls of its shell. This forms an iridescent iridescent layer several millimeters thick. It's called mother of pearl.

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.

White magic stone

The significance of the mineral as a magical attribute has been recognized since ancient times. People believed that mother-of-pearl made the owner healthy, beautiful, successful, and reasonable.

The magical "specialization" is determined by the color of the mineral.

1. Pink is a talisman for the home. Helps strengthen marriage bonds or find love. A large twisted sink placed in a visible place will guarantee peace in the family. A little thing made of pink mother-of-pearl as a gift is a sign of the romantic feelings of the giver. It will be a talisman on the road, a communication channel if a person’s work involves frequent business trips.
2. Brown is an attribute of careerists and workaholics. This stone will make your work more productive, ensure professional success, and good luck in difficult situations or conflicts. The mineral will strengthen the owner’s spirit and improve relationships with colleagues.
3. White mother-of-pearl is taken by those who need something new with a plus sign. The stone will attract exceptionally pleasant people, good luck, and joy. And along the way - confidence, zeroing out mental anxieties and stress.
4. Special attention, as usual, to the black stone. It is valued by magicians, and ordinary people attribute magical powers to it. It was believed that water in a black mother-of-pearl bowl becomes the very elixir of life that alchemists are looking for. The owner of the stone, who has established contact with it, can become a psychic.

An amulet made of mother-of-pearl of any color means a shield from external negativity, which is especially important for young children. The stone imparts positivity and a desire for perfection, but it fades when kept in a box for a long time. To prevent the magical properties of mother-of-pearl from drying out, jewelry with the stone should be worn more often.

The definitely positive energy of the mineral distinguishes it from other precious stones.

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.

Areas of application

The mineral was used to decorate not only jewelry, but also utensils, tools, and even palaces. In the XVIII-XIX centuries. in the Russian Empire it was highly valued. Mary Stuart and Catherine the Great, who collected entire collections of cosmetic devices, were especially kind to him.

The material is excellent for making jewelry, crafts, souvenirs and decorative elements. However, in order for a sink to turn into a complete product, it goes through a number of craftsmen: grinders, carvers, polishers, engravers.

Mother of pearl is used as a lining for various items: glasses, boxes, souvenirs, figurines, etc. The range of products with this mineral is very diverse: rings, rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants, beads.

They can be either almost unprocessed shells, plates, or full-fledged “pictures” or various figures - it all depends on the skills of the creators. They turn out light and airy, almost weightless on the body. Jewelry with minerals will never weigh down the image, but on the contrary, they will emphasize it and make it even more elegant.

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).

Who is the stone suitable for according to the Zodiac?

Pisces, Cancer and Aquarius - this is who the mysteriously iridescent mineral is suitable for.

Pisces will gain confidence, harmony with loved ones, health and strong nerves. They implement the planned business, especially if it is trade or construction. Having a pebble, representatives of this zodiac sign will win any lawsuit or bet and will think about self-development.

The mineral will help Cancer in the professional and personal spheres. Having put on jewelry with mother-of-pearl, they can calmly go to the exam, look for their soul mate, get pregnant on time and bear a child.

Aquarius will find success in a business or creative career and will decide on a calling, which is important for this sign. A pebble in jewelry will give you determination in achieving your goals.

Leo men will be under the protection of green mother-of-pearl if they give up excessive alcohol consumption. Then career takeoff and cash flow for representatives of this sign are guaranteed.

The stone aggravates emotionality, so sarcastic Virgos and vulnerable Geminis have no use for it. They will only get stress, depression or a nervous breakdown.

The rest of the zodiac signs can wear the mineral from time to time.

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.

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.