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Abalone Earrings from Jazz Jewelry |
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| Abalone are mollusks having one-piece shells. They belong to the genus Haliotis , which means "sea ear". They are rounded or oval with a row of respiratory pores along one side. The abalone clings tightly to rocky surfaces and must be pried loose. There are many types: black, flat, pink, green or blue, pinto, red, threaded, and white. Most of the abalone meat is exported to Japan and California. The entire flesh is edible. The primary use for abalone shells is in making inlays on furniture and quitars. They are also sold to shell collectors and are used in making jewelry. For jewelry, each shell must be broken, split, cut, and polished before it shows the varied blue-green-violet colors that make it so attractive for jewelry settings. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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