Mother of pearl has been used over centuries for many different purposes and effects. Your options might seem a little intimidating at first – after all, mother of pearl has been used in architecture, for decorative inlays, and elaborate pieces of jewellery. With a good imagination, pretty much anything is possible. But where do you begin?

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Making Mother of Pearl Jewellery and Accessories

Use your imagination. There are tons of opportunities here for incredible pieces. Mother of pearl can easily be used to craft earrings, charm bracelets, necklaces, and if you’re feeling up for a challenge, even watches. Mother of pearl also make fabulous buttons for shirts.

When you know what you want to make, start thinking about what you want to do with it. Make it as unique as you can. Don’t settle for black and white like any other piece of jewellery. Need your jewellery to match an outfit you already have? Try dying your pearls to give them that unique touch. There are plenty of commercial dyes, but stick to the acid (vinegar) based dyes, as they’ll have a stronger effect. Use your favorite colors to give your jewellery your own flavor.

Since mother of pearl is found in nature, it’s not going to be shaped perfectly – but that’s why it’s beautiful. When you set out to make your jewellery, make sure those oddball pearls are easily viewable. This will add to the exclusive nature of your work.

Decorate the House

This technique can get tricky, so plan ahead to work at your own pace. You’ll have to cut your mother of pearl, but trust me this isn’t that hard.

First, use an everyday jeweller’s saw to carefully cut your mother of pearl into unique pieces and weave them together. After quickly laminating your decoration to ceramic tile or metal, you can cover your design with lacquer for an extra glossy finish. Use sandpaper and polishing compounds as a nice afterthought, preferably on felt. Do be careful, though – mother of pearl is brittle and prone to cracking.

You can even put this on musical instruments – say, a neat pattern on the neck of a guitar. Use a little epoxy glue and slap on your new creation.

This is good for freshening up your jewellery boxes, too. You’ll see the old in a brand new way.

There are many ways mother of pearl can brighten up an otherwise boring room. Try these ideas and you’ll have a good place to start. Enjoy yourself!