Abalone Shell Round Clock

The inside of the large oval ear-shaped shell of the abalone, a large family of sea snails know as Haliotidae, is a deeper and darker mother of pearl than the typical creamy pearly iridescent nacre secreted by its more delicate cousins of the sea, the oysters and mussels. Abalone’s colors resemble a more dramatic palette with rich blues, purples and black and greys peppered by deeper rose and green. It sometimes looks like spilled gasoline in water. A large shell with prized meat that is eaten and considered a delicacy, the abalone’s shell is also used for decorative and ornamental flourishes such as buttons and inlaid details on musical instruments.