Types of Shell Beads

Black Lip shell beads are made from the black-lip pearl oyster. The nacre of this oyster is a shiny iridescent black, and beads made from this nacre appear to have a grey base with a rainbow of reflective colors over it.

Brown Lip shell beads are made from a family of tropical oysters with mother of pearl interiors. Beads made from this nacre are pinkish-brown or iridescent brown in color.

Cebu Beauty shells come from a group of small sea snails (Coralliophila violacea) with violet shells. Cebu is a province of the Philippines which includes Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands.

Gold Lip shell beads are made from a species of oysters that can produce gold-colored South Sea pearls, and are found in the waters of Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan. Gold lip shell beads are a buttery golden color.

Hammer shell beads or violet oyster beads are made from a type of oyster found in the Philippines. They are whitish with a streaked violet color, and are thinner than other shells that are commonly made into beads and so may often be backed with another material.

Mother of Pearl shell beads are made from freshwater pearl mussels also known as abalone. Mother of pearl beads are created from the layers of iridescent white nacre produced as the inner shell layer of some mollusks. Mother of pearl beads are either a natural buttery color, or bleach for a more perfect white.

Paua shell beads or paua abalone shell beads are made from the most colorful of all nacreous shells. Paua shell beads are a combination of blues, greens and browns, with highlights of purple and pink.

Pyrene shell beads are made from the shells of small sea snails, commonly called Dove snails.