Pearl Jewelry

Pearls originate from a variety of mollusks including oyster, conch, abalone and even clams. Mother-of-pearl is from the nacre, or lining of freshwater and salt-water shells like mussels, abalone and oyster. Its iridescent quality makes it dramatic and striking. Mother-of-pearl and pearl jewelry can be found in the collections of our Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals, National Museum of Natural History.