Paua Shell

Item Description

Paua is the Maori name given to three species of large edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs which belong to the family Haliotidae (there is only genus Haliotis). These are often referred to as abalone in the United States and Australia, and in the United Kingdom as ormer shells. It's one of the most popular shells used for jewelry, and arguably the New Zealand material is the most intensely colored. This stone has deep saturated iridescent coloration consisting of rich blues, greens and violets set against a black background. It has an "Oval Cabochon" cut, and is a great bargain for the $10 starting bid.