Paua abalone mother of pearl ring silver Ag 925 31413

Silver ring with rainbow-colored mother-of-pearl from Paua shell. Ag 925. The color shades of paua shell go from greenish pink, through purple blue to golden or crimson tones. When turned in the light from different angles, it changes colors and turns them into a rainbow. With its changing play of colors, it is similar to opal crystals. Attractive and very decorative jewelry. Shell size approx. 0.6 cm. You are buying the jewelry pictured.

Paua is a type of abalone (Haliotis Iris) from the seas of New Zealand. Its indigenous people, the Maori, call it “Paua Te Koha a Tangaroa” – Gift of the Sea God. Maori legend says that paua is a special gift from Tangaroa, the god of the sea.

It is found only on the coasts of New Zealand, where it lives on rocky shores, the best paua shells come from the southern part of the waters around NZ. It lives at a depth of about 10 meters hanging on rocky protrusions. Paua is the most colorful shell of the abalone species, no other shell in the world has such bright and full colors. The color shades of the paua shell go from greenish pink, through purple blue to golden or crimson tones. When shooting in the light from different angles, it changes colors and turns them into a rainbow. With its changing play of colors, it is similar to opal crystals.

Paua was traditionally used by the Maori people in their artistic carvings, especially the eyes of their statues. The red-colored mother-of-pearl was used for the eyes of Maori warrior statues, which shimmered red. Paua holds great significance in Maori traditions, being essential for wedding ceremonies and other celebrations.

Today, paua is used to make designer gold and silver jewelry.