Mother of Pearl Industry

Ancient arts seem lost in a world filled with technological marvels mass produced in plastics and metals. We suffer from being disconnected from the organic and spiritual realms in which nature and creativity are intertwined.

Mopi hopes to enrich people’s lives by re-interpreting the traditional art of “nacre” ornamentation in a contemporary context with designs that function in the modern world.

In doing so they preserve the art form and making it accessible for the world to appreciate. Mopi’s designs unite this time-honored handicraft with sophisticated contemporary tastes to satisfy our desire for beauty, novelty, the lyrical, organic and spiritual.

Mother-of-pearl (“Nacre”) was one of the first precious natural materials used around the world to create treasured ornaments and jewelry. Ancient references to the use and high value placed on nacre in ancient times come from Polynesia, N. Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The European explorers and traders that came to Polynesia in the early 19th century quickly recognized the value of trading mother-of- pearl and it developed rapidly into a valuable commodity with high demand in Europe.

As a by-product of diving for mother-of-pearl, the same explorers found pearls.

The European’s, recognizing the rarity and high value of Polynesia’s natural pearls, vigorously traded for the pearls until they were brought to the brink of extinction. In 1960 only four or five natural black pearls were found in all of French Polynesia. With the advent of pearl farms the industry was brought back from the brink of extinction.

Around the world there are over 70 species of oysters that produce pearls. Not all of these shells produce mother-of-pearl. Only one shell, the Pinctada margaritifera produces the large black pearls of Polynesia. And it is only the top quality mother-of- pearl from this shell that Mopi selects. Under very rare conditions requiring a narrow range of salinity in the sea water, constant water temperature throughout the year, pristine unpolluted waters, and a host of other rare natural conditions found in French Polynesia only this shell produces the aragonite crystalline structure of iridescent greenish-back with purple highlights. The rainbow-colored (peacock) mother-of-pearl comes from virtually the same material and has the same qualities as the Tahitian black pearl. Mother-of-pearl from any other shell, put side by side, does not come close to the quality. Just as there is a difference in the quality of pearls that makes the Tahitian black pearls so highly valued there is a difference in the quality of the mother-of- pearl or “nacre.”

Mopi invites you to enjoy their original creations and sincerely hope that they in some important way, enrich you in the process.