Abalone or Paua Shell? Either Way It's a Must-Have Accessory

My must-have accessory in life is Abalone jewelry. I have earrings and necklaces in Abalone, but the one thing I don't have yet and I am waiting to get my hands on is an Abalone ring. This is not even considered a gem stone but is a shell, rather known as Paua Shell. This shell has no two faces alike, and no matter which piece you are looking at it's sure to be attractive. Here are a list of my personal favorites from own jewelry collection, and a few other ideas as to where I plan to buy.

My top piece is a chain and pendant that comes from Brazil. With my husband taking in jewelry at the coin shop, I get to see a wide array of jewelry from all over the country and sometimes out of the country. This piece has a story attached to it which I love. This piece of jewelry was owned by a woman who moved here from Brazil, and had nothing but the clothes on her back. In an attempt to earn some money for an apartment, she was selling all the jewelry she had. My husband brought this treasure home, and I fell in love with it. He said to me, "I bought this today, do you like it?" Of course I did, that was silly. I love anything in Abalone. He proceeded to tell the story, and tears welled up in my eyes. Every time I take this necklace off, I remember the "lady from Brazil". It makes me feel good to know that I am wearing something around my neck than is just more than an accessory, it's done some traveling.

The second pieces I love are two pairs of Kenneth Cole Abalone earrings that my mother-in-law bought me for my birthday two years ago. They were a set and also came with a stretch bracelet made of sterling silver with a rectangular Abalone center. I love Kenneth Cole's designs, they are contemporary, fresh, and nothing too wild. These Kenneth Abalone pieces were at Macy's, but you can find them on Kennethcole.com, and through most retailers that feature Kenneth Cole. I wear these pieces mostly with a black or purple outfit, and sometimes blues or teals because Of the various hues in the shell. That is what I love about Abalone and why it's a must have; it's so wild on it's own and you can wear it with most anything solid as long it picks up one of the hues in the shell.

One website I am planning to buy from is www.JeGem.com. I love this web retailers pieces. They have rings, earrings and bracelets called 5 grade Rainbow Fire Abalone which has hues that are a lot deeper and extremely rich in color. They have items starting from $34 and up, which I feel are all for a very fair price. They have so many unique styles of pendants too, and most pieces are set in sterling silver.

The only thing to be mindful of when wearing the Abalone or Paua Shell pieces, is that they are delicate on the surface, so when you take them off put them back in the boxes they came in or lay them flat on your dresser. If you aren't careful and they land on their faces, they may crack. So, just be careful, treat your Abalone with tender loving care.