Did you ever stroll along the beach and find a fragment of abalone shell, its shining face reflecting beams of sun on a spellbinding blue-and-greens-and-purple design? These sea gems, in rainbow finish, are perfect for jewelry items to impart a splash of the sea into one’s wardrobe. Abalone shell fragments are not merely for ornament; they are extremely symbolic in terms of the sea and easy to convert into wearable art with a bit of imagination and simple crafting ability.
Abalone shells are a part of ocean snails that live in shore seas on the planet. The reason they’re so unique is that they possess a nacre core—the same material that creates pearls—building that typical play of color which appears to shift and change based on the direction of the light it’s hit with. Although whole shells are lovely, the damaged ones are equally intriguing and more than likely are less complex to work with when creating jewelry.
In this tutorial, I will walk you through some methods of using abalone shell fragments on your DIY jewelry pieces if you are either a crafty experienced person or a DIY beginner. From a basic pendant to a high-end fashion statement, there is an abalone shell project suitable for every skill level and style.
Why Abalone Shell Fragments Make Great Jewelry
Before we proceed to share some single project ideas, let’s take a moment to appreciate why abalone shell fragments are so unique for jewelry making.
Natural Beauty
Every abalone shell piece is a unique pattern and color combination. Each one is unique, so every piece of jewelry you make will be one-of-a-kind.
Natural iridescence creates depth and dimension that even synthesized materials can’t even begin to come close to replicating.
Versatility
Abalone shell fragments in every shape and size, so incredibly versatile depending on the piece of jewelry that one wishes to create. They fit wonderfully to dramatic pendants when large and just so as earrings, bracelets, and just necklaces.
Spiritual Significance
Abalone shell is also greatly valued in most cultures and used in ceremonies and healing rituals. This shell possesses soothing ocean energy and is known to provide emotional balance and inner peace. Jewelry can be beautiful and spiritually powerful
Eco-Friendly Option
Use naturally shed fragments of abalone shells (not from live animals) for an eco-friendly jewelry endeavor. Just be sure to only gather discarded material or buy from sustainable vendors who source their material responsibly.
Minimum Tools and Supplies
To get started on your abalone shell fragment jewelry endeavor, have the following minimum materials in store:
- Abalone shell fragments (obtained responsibly)
- Jewelry wire (copper, silver, or gold)
- Necklace chain or cord
- Earring hooks or posts
- Jump rings of different sizes
- Fine drill and small bits (to drill holes in shell piece)
- Wire cutters and needle-nose pliers
- E6000 or jewelry-grade epoxy
- Optional metal settings or bezels
- Safety equipment (glasses and mask when drilling)
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Polishing cloth for jewelry
Easy Abalone Shell Fragment Pendant
Let’s begin with one of the simplest projects—a wire-wrapped abalone shell fragment pendant.
Materials Needed
- One medium abalone shell fragment
- 20-gauge jewelry wire
- Chain or cord
- Jump rings
- Clasp
- Wire cutters and pliers
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Select a piece of shell that is a strange pattern and color. Sand it to a high polish using fine-grit sandpaper if the edges are rough.
- Cut 24 inches of wire. Mark the center and put your piece of shell there.
- Begin coiling the wire around the shell, making a tight cage. Cover over the edges, rather than the surface of the shell, to best show off its beautiful colors.
- After doing a close wrap, turn the top’s free ends of wire in towards each other to form a loop to hang it off of.
- Form the loop with your pliers and trim off any loose wire ends.
- Suspend a jump ring on the wire loop, then slide your chain or cord on through the jump ring.
- Complete your necklace by adding a clasp.
This easy wrapping method secures the shell fragment in place without gluing or drilling, and it’s ideal for beginners or those who don’t want to disturb the shell’s natural form.
Abalone Shell Fragment Earrings
Earrings are another wonderful way to feature the appearance of abalone shell pieces. Following are two techniques—one with and one without drilling.
Wire-Wrapped Earrings (No Drilling)
- Select two small, approximately the same-sized abalone shell pieces.
- Cut two 12-inch lengths of thin wire (22-24 gauge).
- Wrap each tightly as in the pendant tutorial, leaving a tiny loop at the top.
- Attach the loops to earring hooks using small jump rings.
- Make sure the two earrings are of equal weight and size to be comfortable to wear.
Drilled Abalone Earrings
- Choose two abalone fragments of the same size.
- Wear protective equipment and drill a small hole about one-quarter of the way down from the top of each fragment carefully without cracking the shell.
- Insert a head pin into each hole.
- Create a loop at the top of each head pin using round-nose pliers.
- Secure earring hooks with tiny jump rings.
These earrings have a neater, more streamlined look than wire-wrapped styles and have the shell fragments as the focal point.
Abalone Shell Fragment Bracelet
A stretch bracelet composed of multiple small pieces of abalone shell is an adorable ocean-themed jewelry piece.
Materials Needed
- Small pieces of abalone shell
- Stretch cord or leather cord
- Spacer beads to space between (optional)
- Small drill bit
- Jewelry-grade glue (if using bezels)
- Clasp (if not using stretch cord)
Instructions for Stretch Bracelet
- Drill tiny holes in each piece, for the cord.
- Thread onto stretch cord, space out with spacer beads if desired. Pearl, sea glass, or wooden plain beads are good.
- Close with tightening knot and dot of glue on knot.
Leather Cord Bracelet Tutorial
- Attach small pieces of shells onto bezels with jewelry-grade glue and fill.
- Attach bezels to dried-on leather cord by jumping on it.
- Slide over a clasp or adjustable clasp with sliding knot.
The small pieces of abalone shell are ideal for this project, where otherwise they would be too brittle to drill.
Statement Abaloane Shell Ring
Create a striking statement ring using a stunning piece of abalone shell.
Materials Needed
- One piece of abloine shell
- Ring blank with flat pad
- Heavy jewelry cement
- Fine sandpaper
- Clear jewelry sealant (optional)
Instructions
- Choose a piece of shell that will be comfortable on your ring blank. Sand the back lightly to provide a better bonding surface.
- Apply a small amount of heavy jewelry cement to the ring blank pad.
- Press firmly in the shell chip, holding for a minute or two.
- Let the adhesive set completely as described on the package (usually 24 hours).
- Optional: Seal shell chip with a clear coat of jewelry sealant to render it more hardy, but it will remove the natural luster.
This ring is a stunning conversation piece and places the color of the sea in your hand.
Abalone Shell Fragment Mosaic Pendant
For a cleaner project, try to construct a mosaic pendant from a number of pieces of abalone shells.
Materials Needed
- Small fragments of several abalone shells
- Blank or pendant bezel
- Two-part epoxy resin
- Mixing cups and stir sticks
- Tweezers
- Toothpicks
- Disposable gloves
- Sandpaper (optional)
Instructions
- Arrange your pieces of small shell in the bezel in a design you prefer. Precision requires tweezers.
- Satisfied with your design, follow package instructions for mixing your epoxy resin.
- Gently fill the shell pieces and the bezel with the resin, loosening air bubbles with a toothpick.
- Let the resin cure completely (24-48 hours).
- Sand and buff rough edges if necessary.
This produces a stained glass effect, as the resin preserves all the tiny pieces intact and brings out their color.
Abalone Shell Piece and Metal Clay Necklace
Expert metal clay craftsmen can blend abalone shell chips with silver or bronze clay to create top-notch, museum-quality jewelry.
Materials Needed
- Abalone shell piece
- Metal clay (silver or bronze)
- Basic metal clay tools
- Firing kiln or torch
- Polishing material
Instructions
- Develop a foundation using your metal clay either as the backing of the shell or as a bezel setting.
- For directions in torch-firing, you will need to place the piece of the shell in position once fired.
- For kiln firing, you will need to bed the shell so that it will be simple enough to remove before firing so that it forms a perfect cavity within.
- Once metal finished and fired, secure your abalone shell fragment with jewelry-grade adhesive.
- Optional: apply protective sealant.
It enables more intricate designs and bonding of precious metal with the natural beauty of abalone shell fragments.
Caring for Your Abalone Shell Fragment Jewelry
To make your abalone shell fragment jewelry remain lovely in the future, it must be cared for:
- Avoid exposure to harsh chemicals, e.g., perfume, hairspray, and cleaners.
- Do not wear abalone shell jewelry when swimming or wading in the water, particularly seawater or chlorinated pools.
- Store each piece separately so they won’t scratch each other.
- Clean with a soft, lightly dampened cloth.
- Apply clear protective sealant again if you want to if you have done so with your pieces.
Keep abalone shell, as with any natural material, in mind: it is fragile. Treat your jewelry gently so as to preserve its natural beauty.
Ethical Issues to be Considered During Abalone Shell Fragment Acquisition
Before making any purchase or acquisition of abalone shell fragments, the following ethical issues need to be addressed:
- Never harvest the shells from still-living abalones. Abalones are commonly found preserved in most parts of the world as they have been overfished.
- Always check for local regulations before harvesting fragments from seashell collections as there are beaches that collection is restricted.
- Buy from traders who can guarantee you with ethical harvesting.
- Use abalone shell pieces as by-products of environmentally friendly food products.
In being honest about your materials, you can play and work with abalone shell pieces without harming the marine ecosystem and the conservation efforts.
Where to Find Abalone Shell Pieces
If you’re not so fortunate to be located near coastal areas where abalone shells would likely wash up on a beach somewhere, here are some other locations you’ll likely find such items:
- Most craft stores stock shell pieces legally gathered.
- Etsy-type online companies like Etsy feature vendors of natural specialty material products.
- Specialty online stores selling jewelry supply-type items.
- Seafood restaurants along beach resort towns collect here and there pieces of shell from legally harvested abalone.
As a consumer when you go shopping, choose vendors who will inform you where they purchased their shells and promise you that they were purchased responsibly.
Conclusion
Abalone shell shavings provide endless opportunity to create distinctive, ocean-inspired jewelry. If you are attracted to their metaphysical attributes, their appearance, or just an affinity for ocean hues, these rainbow-colored stones can be formed into wearable jewelry through some basic jewel-making skills and a bit of imagination.
From plain wire-wrapped pendants to exquisite mosaics pieces of art, there’s an abalone shell project for the novice crafter as well as the seasoned one. The advice given below is just a guide, so take it upon yourself to play around and devise your own methods for showcasing these lovely pieces of the ocean.
Never forget to obtain your abalone shell pieces responsibly and handle your completed pieces with the utmost care in order to maintain their own natural beauty. Keeping these tips in mind, you can truly enjoy making and wearing your own special abalone-inspired jewelry for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are abaloona shells rare?
Abalone shells themselves aren’t rare, but abalone itself has endangered or threatened species due to overfishing and habitat loss. That’s why it’s so important to acquire the fragments ethically—either off shores where they washed up naturally, or from individuals selling them as by-products of their sustainably caught food.
Will abalone shell jewelry tarnish?
The shell will never tarnish but will possibly get slightly dull if exposed to strong chemicals or the direct sun. Tarnishing on whatever pieces of metal that you do have in jewelry will vary depending on what metal that you have. Gently wiping down and putting it away will keep the shell and metal pieces in top condition.
Will I be able to shower or swim with abalone shell jewelry?
It is not advisable. Chlorinated pool water or sea water will dull the shell’s iridescence and rot its natural nacre over time. Water ruins adhesives employed in mounting the jewelry too.
How do I test if my abalone shell work is authentic?
Original pieces of abalone shells will display an iridescence when struck by light that will shift with light angle. They are also usually extremely minutely curved and not flat. Rarely, original pieces of shells will be cold to the touch when taken out of their holding containers and gradually warm up after a while, while plastic ones warm up instantly.
Is an abalone piece of shell polishable to make them shiny?
Though abalone shell chips can be buffed with a soft cloth, aggressive buffing uglifies the sensitive nacre layer which creates iridescence. Application of a thin layer of clear polish or shell wax for additional luster is superior to mechanical buffing processes.
Are abalone shells legally harvestable on beaches?
Law is different wherever you go. Some where you can harvest shell and pieces and harvest from somewhere—according to areas where abalones are saving—you won’t do it. Local law, check first before.
How do I safely drill holes through fragments of abalone shells without damaging them?
Drill slowly with a small, sharp drill bit using a low speed. Underwater drilling or leaving the shell moist can prevent cracking. Hold the shell in a padded surface such as a block of wood instead of a hard surface, and apply slow, consistent pressure instead of jamming the drill.