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Haliotis Iris
Abalone, or Haliotis Iris, is an ear-shaped mollusc that is native to New Zealand. The local or Maori name for the sea creature is the “Black Foot Paua”.The interior layer of the paua shell is called nacre and is also the focus of what makes the Abalone so different. This inner shell is an iridescent swirl of intense colours, ranging from deep cobalt blue and peacock green to purples, creams and pinks. Each pearl, natural or cultured, will have it's own unique collage of colours.

Pearl formation
A natural pearl is one that is formed without any human intervention. It occurs when a foreign matter or parasite naturally enters the body of the mollusc. When the mollusc produces the nacre on the inside of the shell it will instinctively form over top of the foreign object as a way to soothe and protect itself. This protective mechanism of the mollusc is what, over time, results in the formation of a natural pearl. A cultured pearl on the other hand, is the result of human interference with the natural process of nacre formation. A cultured pearl occurs when humans insert a foreign particle inside the mollusc in the desired shape and size of the pearl that they want to create. A cultured pearl will therefore appear very round and flawless, whereas a natural pearl may come in a variety of rare shapes and sizes.

shapes
The Haliotis iris creates baroque pearls which vary in size and shape. The main shapes that can be found on the international market are

Free form Conical Blister Cluster