Mother of Pearl Shell Beads Chief sources of mother of pearl are the pearl oyster, freshwater pearl mussels, and abalone. Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is an iridescent organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner shell layer and also is what makes up pearls. It is very strong, resilient, and iridescent. Nacre appears iridescent with different colors of light being reflected at different viewing angles. Use: Lustrous and colorful, mother-of-pearl shell beads are commonly used in jewelry making and are a beautiful addition to most any craft creation. Shape: Tri-Tip Nugget Color: Blue Appearance: Exhibits good luster and some natural dark markings Enhancements: Dyed With all dyed shells, testing for colorfastness is recommended. Please wash or apply artists' fixative to help stabilize the color as needed. Approximate Size: Medium Approximate Size Range: 8-10mm Approximate size varies between beads Approximate Hole Size: 1mm Hole Orientation: Center-Drilled, Lengthwise Quantity: Sold Per 15-inch Strand May be loose or on temporary strand Being an item of nature, size, shape & color will vary Picture represents entire beautiful lot - Strand shipped selected at random Imported from China