[Slraep]

Hi Kathleen,

I just saw the most amazing MOP ring at Birks. It was a big longish oval that was polished to perfection and set in heavy gold. Normally I would not be interested in MOP, but this one was a stunner. It looked like a moonstone cab. As with everything at Birks, it was pricey. Unique and beautiful, though.

Slraep

[pattye]

That sounds beautiful, Danuta--

I'm not familiar with that store. I think that MOP really shows off with larger pieces. I have also gathered that MOP is graded, like A-AA-AAA.
Maybe Richardo Lima could speak to that. You probably already know there are lots of natural colors available in MOP.

Pattye

[Casey.R]

Well I have a vintage pair of taxco mother of pearl earrings and people ask where I got them all the time.

And I love mother of pearl buttons.

[Ashley]

Hi All,

Back when I first began working in jewelry forever ago, I started with a company that specialized in High-End Opal inlay- Since then they've quickly expanded into beautiful MOP pieces with 14K and 18K gold and diamonds. The combinations are unique and exciting. Because each piece of shell displays it's own patterns, no two pieces are exactly the same.

I have had my Tahitian MOP drop pendant for 7 years now, and it looks just as lovely and lustrous as it did when I first bought the piece.

Check out Kabana Jewelry http://www.kabana.biz/
They mostly do wholesale only, unless you're lucky enough to live in New Mexico where you can visit a retail location, but there are alot of jewelers out there that carry this line.

[Leanne Hunter]

Are you talking about the mother of pearl shell? If so I have a funky line of jewellery, homeware items and mossaic art peices all made from the mother of pearl shell. Can email pics if interested?

Leanne Hunter

[pattye]

Hi Steve,

Can you give us an update on the Custom Piano?

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[smetzler]

Pattye,

My research into MOP piano keys focused upon finding Exhibition grade (highest level) shells which could be cut into 6" pieces observing the maximum tolerances as provided by keytop specialists currently working with legal ivory, mammouth tusk, etc. It turns out this length would be impossible without complex lamination (even from P. Maxima), and cutting the notched shapes would result in nearly 100% breakage. However 4" lengths are certainly possible, making production of two-piece keytops (no notches!) more than feasible.

My research took me from Brasil to Korea to Broome, Australia (a smallish family pearler there), while developing sympathetic and unique sources. One European manufacturer of world-class grand pianos, Blüthner in Leipzig, is seriously looking at offering MOP keytops on special order as a result of my request. They have researched the historical precedents (harpsichords from the 17th and 18th centuries) for additional justification.

So I am satisfied that something may eventually result, at the highest level of craftsmanship and tradition, from this exercise!

Steve
Seattle

[pattye]

Thanks Steve,

A Majorly Huge Project, and so exciting!! That gives me goose bumps! I would drive to Seattle to see it when it is unveiled!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by smetzler

My research took me from Brasil to Korea to Broome, Australia

Virtual visits thus far—we do enough travel in our business as it is! (The Korean did receive a couple of bottles of fine Spanish red wine from our customer in Seoul, however.)


Steve
Seattle