珍珠母的历史

The History of Mother of Pearl
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Key Takeaways

  • Mother of Pearl is nacre, an irridescent inner layer that coats a mollusc shell, sharing the same substance that forms pearls.
  • Mother of Pearl has been used across ancient civilizations, from Eygptians to Chinese dynasties, to Indigenous Australian cultures.
  • In the early 20th century, shell harvesting, especially in places like Broome, Western Australia, served the Mother of Pearl button industry - dominating the world supply until WWII.
  • Today, Mother of Pearl is used in jewellery, watch dials, inlay work, and furniture accents.
  • Pearls of Australia uses MSC accredited Mother of Pearl shell grown at our very own Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm (WA).

Summarise this article

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珍珠母和珍珠之间的密切关系可能会引起两者之间的混淆。在本文中，我们将介绍珍珠母是什么，并介绍一些关键点，包括它的来源、用途以及它与真正的珍珠有何不同。

什么是珍珠母？

珍珠母是软体动物壳内层的一种彩虹色物质。它主要存在于三种软体动物中，包括珍珠贝壳。

珍珠母是由珍珠层覆盖珍珠壳而形成的。继续阅读以了解更多有关这一不可思议的过程的信息。

数百年来，人们一直采集珍珠母并将其镶嵌在珠宝首饰中。珍珠母至今仍然很受欢迎，不仅因为它美观，还因为它耐用且用途广泛。澳大利亚珍珠公司提供一系列珍珠母首饰- 请务必在线或到店查看我们精美的系列。

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什么是珍珠层？

从科学角度来说，珍珠母是贝壳产生的珍珠层。珍珠层是由碳酸钙晶体、丝蛋白和其他有机材料组成的物质，它们像砖块一样层层覆盖在贝壳的内层上。这种分层形成了贝壳上可见的波浪条纹。

珍珠层的虹彩来自珍珠层分泌物每一层的厚度都会根据可见光的量而变化。不同厚度的分泌层会导致光线从不同深度反射到珍珠层上，从而使任何可见层都呈现出不同的闪烁颜色。

珍珠母是如何形成的？

珍珠母是一种有机宝石，就像珍珠一样，但其形成的过程与珍珠不同。

如上所述，珍珠母是所有贝壳都会分泌的珍珠层，形成珍珠壳的内壳层。

经过几年的时间，这些珍珠层就形成了贝壳内表面的形状。

“母亲”一词源于这样一种信仰，即母珍珠层保护并孕育珍珠，就像母亲对待孩子一样。

  • Black and white image of a Australian South Sea Mother of Pearl buttons cut out of a Pinctada maxima pearl shell.
  • The Cygnet Bay Pearl lugger boat on water at Diver's Creek - at Cygnet Bay Pearl farm with trees in the background.
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珍珠母与珍珠有何不同？

尽管珍珠母和珍珠都来自同一地方——珍珠牡蛎的壳，但它们的形成方式却不同。

从形状和大小来看，珍珠母比珍珠大。珍珠的形状是固定的，通常更小、更球形。珍珠母的大小因贝壳大小不同而不同，其表面积更大、更平坦。

珍珠母是贝壳的内层，珍珠就是从中“诞生”的。所有贝壳都是由珍珠母组成的，但并不是所有天然贝壳都能产出珍珠。因此，它们之间有着根本的区别。

此外，它们的形成过程也不同。无论如何，珍珠层都会分层形成珍珠母，而珍珠的形成只是作为对刺激物的防御机制。

要了解有关珍珠形成过程的更多信息， 请阅读此处。

了解更多

珍珠母在历史上是如何使用的？

埃及文明中的珍珠母

在整个埃及文明中，珍珠母一直被用作装饰品。

珍珠母和澳大利亚土著

40,000 多年来，丹皮尔半岛的 Bardi Jawi 人一直在采集珍珠贝。珍珠贝不仅是一种重要且营养丰富的食物来源，而且具有极为重要的文化意义。这些古代工匠会将珍珠贝雕刻成泪滴形状，称为 Guwan。然后，他们会用袋鼠下颚骨在珍珠贝上雕刻出独特的线条，再用红赭石染色。这种形状的珍珠贝被称为 Riji。在隆重的仪式上，男人们会将 Riji 系在腰间，系在一条由阿姨和姐妹捐赠的人发制成的腰带上。这些古老的艺术品象征着权力和崇高的荣誉，在澳大利亚中部各地交易了数千公里。

珍珠母的现代应用

19 世纪，珍珠母贝达到顶峰，珍珠母贝纽扣成为全球主要商品。珍珠母贝纽扣需求量巨大，纽扣行业每年使用近 140,000 公斤珍珠壳。

当时，西澳大利亚布鲁姆是世界上大部分珍珠母的供应地，直到第二次世界大战 (WWII) 才停止大规模生产。二战后，塑料的引入彻底摧毁了珍珠纽扣的生产和出口，导致大批量生产停止。

从历史上看，珍珠母已被采摘并镶嵌在珠宝中已有数百年历史，这种装饰用途仍然盛行。珍珠母至今仍然很受欢迎，不仅因为它美观，还因为它耐用且用途广泛。

布鲁姆在珍珠母产业中扮演什么角色？

布鲁姆是珍珠养殖业的第一个现代时期的一部分——19 世纪 70 年代，珍珠母捕捞业开始兴起。1910 年，澳大利亚珍珠贝壳产业达到顶峰，布鲁姆成为全球 80% 以上珍珠母供应中心。不幸的是，这一产业在 20 世纪 40 年代崩盘，塑料取代了珍珠母。然而，在被禁止近 20 年后，渔业使养殖珍珠在澳大利亚合法化。

  • Diver wearing a vintage diving helmet when diving for Mother of pearl shell in Broome.
  • Two men sorting oysters on a beach with a large pile of Pinctada maxima Australian South Sea pearl shell in front of them.
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珍珠母有哪些颜色？

珍珠母因其高反射率的彩虹色而闻名。然而，珍珠母可能呈现多种颜色：

  • 无光泽：光泽度最低，带有淡淡的银色或灰色色调。
  • 石头：反射性轻微，色调接近白色。
  • 芯片：多色。
  • 白色：色彩鲜艳且明亮，最广泛用于珠宝。
  • 彩虹色：非常有光泽，混合粉色和绿色色调。

如何清洁和保养珍珠母首饰？

珍珠是精致的宝石，需要特别的关注和保养才能保持其最佳状态。

为了保养您的珍珠和珍珠母首饰，请避免接触化妆品、防晒霜、消毒剂、香水、洗涤剂、发胶和清洁产品等刺激性化学品。

要清洁珍珠和珍珠母首饰，每次使用后请用柔软的湿布轻轻擦拭，以清除任何污垢或汗水。

将珍珠或珍珠母首饰与其他首饰分开存放，以防止刮伤，并远离阳光直射或热源。

为了让您的珠宝保持最佳状态，我们为客户提供清洁服务。如果您希望清洁您的珠宝，请联系我们友好的 Pearls of Australia 团队成员之一。

产品保养How to Care for Pearls
  • A woman wears her timeless My Planet Charm features our Cygnet Bay (WA) Australian South Sea Mother of Pearl shell set in Sterling Silver.
  • Large Mother of Pearl Shell, grown at our Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm (WA).
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澳大利亚珍珠母贝首饰精选

珍珠母首饰

几个世纪以来，大珠母贝的壳因其彩虹般的光泽和帝王般的美丽而闻名于世，如今，大珠母贝的壳中继续产出一些最美丽、最受追捧的珍珠母。

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为何选择澳大利亚珍珠作为您的珍珠母首饰？

作为珍珠养殖者，可持续发展是我们日常生活的核心。利用珍珠壳的每一个部分是朝着这个方向迈出的一步，我们的澳大利亚珍珠母珠宝系列真实反映了我们对地球的承诺。

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The amazing Harmony Drop Earrings features our Cygnet Bay (WA) grown Australian South Sea Mother of Pearl shell set in Sterling Silver.

为您找到完美的珍珠母首饰！

在购买我们的珍珠母饰品之前，您是否想与我们的珠宝和珍珠专家交谈？他们很乐意为您提供任何帮助，请发送电子邮件至hello@pearlsofaustralia.com.au或致电 (08) 6478 6886 联系他们。

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Mother of Pearl FAQs

What is mother of pearl?

Mother of pearl is the iridescent inner lining of a pearl shell, the same material or substance that forms a pearl.

It is created by the pearl shell and is valued for its stunning lustre. At Australian pearl farms, like Cygnet Bay and Broken Bay pearl farm, mother of pearl comes from the same shells that produce our Australian South Sea and Akoya pearls and are used in our jewellery collections.

How to identify genuine mother of pearl in watches

Genuine mother of pearl in watches shows natural iridescence, striations showing layering of nacre and light refraction, and soft colour variation.

No two pieces look exactly the same. Fake mother of pearl dials often appear flat, overly uniform, or plastic-like. Real nacre will show subtle shifts in colour as it catches the light.

Reputable Australian jewellers disclose when genuine mother of pearl is used in watch faces.

Best stores in Australia to buy mother of pearl jewellery

The best place to buy mother of pearl jewellery in Australia are specialist pearl jewellers.

Pearls of Australia offers jewellery with single origin pearls and mother of pearl, sourced directly from our very own pearl farms.

Buying from pearl specialists ensures the material is authentic, responsible sourced and crafted with quality rather than imitation shell.

How to clean mother of pearl jewellery at home?

Mother of pearl jewellery should be cleaned gently to protect the nacre and the material of the piece. Use a soft cloth, then wipe gently. Avoid ultrasonics, harsh chemicals, vinegar or abrasive brushes.

Store mother of pearl jewellery separately from harder gemstones and metals to prevent scratching. Please note that our jewellery boxes are not intended for long-term storage.

Gentle, regular care helps maintain its natural lustre and shine over time.

Where can I find mother of pearl earrings in Sydney?

You can find mother of pearl earrings in Sydney through specialist pearl jewellers, select fine jewellery stores and Australian pearl brands selling online with Australian-wide shipping.

Pearls of Australia offers mother of pearl jewellery online and 45 minutes north of Sydney, at our Shellar Door in Mooney Mooney, NSW.

Is mother of pearl valuable?

Mother of pearl has value as a natural gemstone material, but is generally less valuable than whole pearls. Its value depends on thickness, size, lustre, colour and origin.

High-quality mother of pearl from pearl shell, including our polished mother of pearl shell, is prized as a standalone piece or utilised in jewellery.

While more affordable than saltwater pearls, it remains a premium material when properly sourced and finished.

Is mother of pearl real pearl?

Mother of pearl is not a real pearl, but it is made of the same substance as a pearl. Both are composed of layers of nacre produced by the pearl shell. A pearl is formed when nacre builds up around an irritant inside the shell, while mother of pearl is the nacre lining of the shell itself. So while it isn't a pearl, it is real nacre.

Why is mother of pearl cheaper than pearl?

Mother of pearl is usually cheaper than pearl because it is more abundant and easier to harvest. A single South Sea pearl shell grown at our Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm provides a large surface area of nacre, whereas a pearl takes years to form and only produces one gem at a time. Pearls are also graded individually for lustre, shape, surface quality, which increases rarity and value compared with cut mother of pearl shell.

What is mother of pearl also known as?

Mother of pearl is also known as nacre. In jewellery terminology, nacre refers to the substance secreted by the pearl shell resulting in layers than form the inside of a pearl shell or the pearl itself. You may see mother of pearl labelled simply as nacre in product descriptions and gemology guides.