Mother of pearl jewelry is not just about the pieces that use multicolored shell as inlays for rings and earrings. It’s also about imitation pearl rings that are formed from nacre, which is in fact the real word for mother-of-pearl. Nacre is what genuine pearls, both natural and cultured, are formed from. It is the organic material that mollusks produce, forming the shimmering white or multicolored coating inside their shell, as well as what grows in layers and eventually makes a pearl. This nacre is iridescent and may be taken from the shell to use as thin inlays in silver or gold bands, or may be treated and formed into round button or blister-like imitation pearls.
Blister Pearl, Button Pearl and Mother of Pearl Ring Designs
Many so called mother of pearl ring designs may in fact be a blister pearl ring, which is a small bubble-like bump of nacre that forms on a mollusk’s shell. When this blister is cut away from the shell, it often has a flat side with some mother of pearl attached to it. Some blister pearl rings may highlight this unique feature by leaving more shell to create a sort of dish around the blister, or leaving a mother of pearl lip around the raised pearl to become part of the ring’s design. These styles are usually categorized as fashion or costume pearl jewelry and are most commonly used as ladies cocktail rings, however there are cheap mother of pearl engagement rings that feature created pearls, which often look like round, white freshwater or akoya pearls.
Mother of Pearl Engagement Rings
Round, oval or baroque pearl rings, may in fact be mother of pearl. Some fine examples of these rings can be found at Bling Jewelry and Heavenly Treasures.
Bling has mother of pearl engagement rings that look like cultured pearls, but are in fact created, and cost just $60. One particular piece is a fine choice, because although it’s an imitation pearl, it’s mounted in a white gold plated band accented with cubic zirconia in a unique designer replica.
Bling Pearl Cocktail Ring
For just over $100, Bling Jewelry offers an unusual mother of pearl cocktail ring with three pieces of genuine iridescent nacre surrounded by cubic zirconia in a solid sterling silver ring.
If you’re searching for pearl rings under 100 dollars, you will likely find many in the mother of pearl designs.
Colorful Mother of Pearl Rings
Natural nacre may be dyed to almost any color, and cut to almost any shape. One example is this piece sold through Amazon for just over $45, set in sterling silver with lavender and pink mother of pearl inlays in a geometric floral pattern.
If colorful deco rings with a retro flair are what you seek, Heavenly Treasures has a square piece with flat gemstones and mother of pearl cut into a mosaic pattern that’s set in a gold band with two rows of genuine diamonds. It costs about $330, but would match almost any colored outfit, as a cocktail ring or a fashion accent.
Flower Ring and Onyx and Pearl Inlays
Heavenly Treasures also offers some strangely wonderful creations, like the mother of pearl flower ring for $249 with genuine diamonds and set in a 14k gold ring band.
They also have a 14k gold inlaid mother of pearl band that mixes black onyx, white pearl and diamonds in a stunning wide band that retails for just under $300.
Pink Ring
As an unusual promise ring or pre engagement ring, there’s a rose gold design with mother of pearl inlays, accented with 6 small diamonds on crisscrossing bands, for under $500. It is sold through Heavenly Treasures, along with many other styles, and many matching accessories under $100.
A Fun Pearl Ring
For something totally different and very fun, you may fall in love with this delicately crafted turtle ring, which has inlaid mother of pearl forming the shell, and with diamond studded turtle legs and head, mounted on a split shank solid gold ring. This unusual ring is about $1,300.
Mother of Pearl Earrings and Accessories
Both Bling Jewelry and Heavenly Treasures also carry a complete line of mother of pearl earrings, bracelets and pendants, even some pearl necklaces that appear to have real pearls. Many pieces retail for under $30 to over $100.
If you need inexpensive bridesmaid jewelry or mother of pearl rings for gifts, you’re sure to find what you need at one of these two pearl jewelry shops.
Mother of Pearl Inlaid Titanium Wedding Bands & Mens Pearl Rings
Perhaps the most recently popularized titanium wedding bands are mens and womens titanium rings with iridescent mother of pearl inlays. There is one quality design available through Titanium Kay, which comes in sizes from 6 to 13, for him or her, for just under $100.
This piece is a stylish mens pearl ring, elegant yet not ostentatious. Mens pearl rings are difficult to find, and usually feature mother of pearl inlaid patterns in darker colors, not the soft pink or golden tones that are popular for the ladies.
Cheap Pearl Ring Alternatives
For a cheap pearl ring alternatives, we recommend mother-of-pearl engagement rings, wedding bands and even cocktail bling to jazz up your eveningwear because they are elegant or casual in fun fashionable colors, and best of all, they’re really pearl!
Final Note: When searching for mother of pearl ring designs, remember they are often abbreviated in jeweler’s catalogues as MOP rings.
Related posts:
- Pearl Rings (Part I) – Pearls Before Rings
- Pearl Engagement Rings (Part II)
- Pearl Wedding Rings (Part III)
- Silver Pearl Rings (Part XII)
- Baroque, Coin and Mother of Pearl Necklace Options
