![oval cut anatase](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/anatase-taille-ovale254-150x150.png)
![marquetry in white nacre](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/nacre-marqueterie-blanche-300x199.jpg)
mother-of-pearl
![inside of oyster pearl shell in nacre](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/coquille-de-grande-pinctadine-perliere-australie-300x199.jpg)
inside of oyster pearl shell in nacre
![inside of heliotis shell in multicolored iridescent nacre](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/haliotis-interieur-coquille-300x199.jpg)
inside of heliotis shell in multicolored iridescent nacre
![carved nacre shell](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/nacre-coquille-sculptee-300x225.jpg)
carved nacre shell
![shell of strombus gigas](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/strombus-gigas-nacre-conch-300x199.jpg)
shell of strombus gigas
![turtles carved in nacre](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tortues-nacre-300x199.jpg)
turtles carved in nacre
![nacre inlay used on jewelry](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/bijoux-en-nacre-300x200.jpg)
nacre inlay used on jewelry
![haliotis nacre jewel](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/nacre-haliotis-bijou-300x199.jpg)
haliotis nacre jewel
![work of pearl inlaid ware, game token](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/nacre-jeton-jeu-300x225.jpg)
work of pearl inlaid ware, game token
Detailed sheet
mother-of-pearl
Mother-of-pearl or Nacre is the substance that constitutes the inner part of the shell of certain mollusks, its name comes from the Latin “ nacrum “, which was used to describe white matter with iridescent reflections.
It consists of a mineral part of calcium carbonate crystals in its aragonite form and an organic part called conchiolin, which represents only 4% to 6% of the nacre but can assemble all the aragonite crystals in a solid matter. It is the light diffraction on,the aragonite microcrystals that causes the iridescence.
The color of the nacre depends on the mineral ions or substances present in the environment in which the mollusk lives, the carotenoids type of organic pigments in the conchiolin contribute to the orange-yellow to purple coloration.
A very colorful nacre and multicolored in green and blue, that comes from the abalone (Haliotis australis) of New Zealand was already used by the Maori … this variety of nacre is often called “sea opal”, even if it has nothing in common with the opal.
![](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/zoom-in.png)
![](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/themes/astra-child/images/icon-image.png)
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
CaCO3
calcium carbonate and conchiolin
![](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/zoom-in.png)
![](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/themes/astra-child/images/icon-image2.png)
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Main color
white
Other colors
blue, brown, grey, yellow, black, orange, pink, green, purple
virtually all shades of existing colors
Color of streak
white
Luster
pearly
Hardness
2.5 to 4.5
Density
2.50 to 2.90
Cleavage
none
Fracture
uneven
can make splinters sometimes
![](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/zoom-in.png)
![](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/themes/astra-child/images/icon-image3.png)
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
Transparency
opaque, translucent
transparent in very thin strips
Refractive index
1.500 - 1.700
Double refraction
0.100
definite
visible double refraction
No
Pleochroism
absent
Number of colors
1
Fluorescence
variable
sometimes fluorescent according to the minerals in the living environment of the shell
![](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/zoom-in.png)
![](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/themes/astra-child/images/icon-image4.png)
CRYSTALS PROPERTIES
microcrystalline structure of aragonite in some conchiolin
crystals system
orthorhombic
![](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/zoom-in.png)
![](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/themes/astra-child/images/icon-image5.png)
OTHER INFORMATIONS
Exploited
sites
Regions of the world that produce the finest qualities of nacre are: Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Djibouti, Madagascar, Polynesia … Tahiti for the black nacres.
use in jewelry
The nacre has always been appreciated for its perfect whiteness and also for its iridescent samples. It is used for making inlays, buttons, fancy jewelry, dials of watches, brooches, religious medals …
In the Middle East and Spain it was used as an overlay for many items and even the whole furniture in Syria.
Nacre is a very solid material even being formed by 95% of aragonite which is not solid … Recent studies provide an explanation: during the growth of the mollusk, the aragonite crystals are like sealed by conchiolin in all different directions, which prevents the formation of cleavage planes and makes the shell very resistant.
The nacre is the “stone” of the anniversary of 42 years of marriage.
Daily care
and precautions
Fairly easy to maintain, it must be protected from scratches and acids. Cleaning with soap and water and possibly polishing with tripoli cleaner
Historical
healing properties
Since ancient times, nacre was attributed specific virtues. The Chinese, the Egyptians attributed to it it the ability to protect skin and dissolved it in acid to use it as a tonic. In Latin America it was much appreciated. The very pure white nacre was equated with the Virgin Mary and symbolized the maternal protection.
In lithotherapy, nacre, by its milky color has maternal and protective virtues. It gently protects against attacks from external attacks and brings serenity and calmness. It would protect from bad influences and would give security.
historical stones
and related legends
In France a specific craft was developed specifically around the work of the nacre, of bones, ivory and tortoiseshell, since the seventeenth century in the region of Meru in the Oise: the luxury and fancy goods. As in the mountains, the peasants of this region were working these noble materials during the winter and were making luxury items like fans but also buttons with nacre. This region was described in the early twentieth century as the capital of pearly nacre button which was then exported worldwide and more than 10,000 people worked in the business.
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