The Pacific Lion’s Paw, or Mano de Leon, is a bivalve mollusk found in the shallow waters of North and Central America. Its name is derived from the shape of the shell, which resembles a lion’s paw. The outer shell ranges in color from chocolate brown to vibrant orange while the interior varies from pearly white to shades of purple and brown.
Scallop pearls are extremely rare. A typical scallop fisherman might discover a mere handful throughout his entire career. Scallop pearls, like conch pearls , exhibit an unusual phenomenon: When viewed in bright light they exhibit a type of aventurescence (small reflective platelets) that appear to shimmer and dance below the pearl’s surface. With only a small number found each year, these pearls are truly for the collector or custom jeweler.
See our scallop pearl pieces.
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