Why is spiny oyster jewelry so expensive?

Spiny oyster was harvested by free diving down to collect the bivalves. It is still done the same way today, although many divers use air tanks when diving. The way it’s collected often determines its price. The deeper and more dangerous to collect, the more expensive it will be.

Is spiny oyster rare?

Spiny Oyster shells are unique, beautiful, and also difficult-to-harvest. The shells of the Spiny Oyster are rare finds and are especially treasured by Native American Indian artists for their beautiful red, pink, brown, yellow, orange, purple, and white colors.

Is spiny oyster dyed?

The Spiny oyster is commonly used and comes in shades of orange, purple and other colors. Today, the shell may be dyed to enhance the color or treated for durability.

Is spiny oyster coral?

Spiny Oyster is a shell. Yes, it takes on the red/orange color of coral … as well as purple and other colors. Spiny Oyster comes from the shell of the Spondylus varius, a bivalve mollusk. At LBJ, we can totally understand why the Native American artisans used Spiny Oyster in their jewelry … we love it in ours!

Is spiny oyster turquoise real?

SPINY OYSTER SHELL TURQUOISE… can be found in a variety of shades ranging from yellow, orange, red and purple. The Atlantic thorny oyster is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico where it is found at depths between 9 and 45 meters.

Are spiny oysters edible?

The flesh of spiny oysters is edible, and the mollusks are harvested for both shell and meat. After cleaning, shells need to be ground down with lapidary wheels to remove the quills. Common with many kinds of gems and lapidary materials, the shell is worked when wet, and water is also introduced during the process.

Is purple spiny oyster natural?

But what exactly is it? Well, unlike turquoise, which is a mined mineral, purple spiny oyster is, as its name implies: the product of an underwater creature. Believe it or not, spiny oysters are still entirely harvested by hand from the waters of the Gulf of California.

Is White Buffalo turquoise real turquoise?

Although they call White Buffalo Turquoise, it is actually not. The name “White Buffalo Turquoise” was given to this rock from the Otteson’s who are very experience in mining Turquoise and have been doing so for generations of well over 50 years.

Is spiny oyster Turquoise real?

Why are oyster shells purple?

Chlorophyll catabolites certainly derives from the digestion of chlorophylls resulting from the algae-based oysters feeding. These findings converge towards the MEE-specific accumulation of carboxylic acid porphyrins responsible for purple and dark C. gigas shells colours.

How can you tell if a white buffalo turquoise is real?

Authentic White Turquoise generally comes from Arizona and Nevada, USA. Although it is called White Turquoise, there is a slight tint of blue or green color from the minerals in the rock that actually make the material test as authentic Turquoise.

Why is spiny oyster jewelry so expensive? Spiny oyster was harvested by free diving down to collect the bivalves. It is still done the same way today, although many divers use air tanks when diving. The way it’s collected often determines its price. The deeper and more dangerous to collect, the more expensive it will…