Abalone or paua shell comes from the abalone, a sea mollusk. The pearly inside of the shell is polished and used in jewelry making and other decoration. New Zealand abalone have a particularly striking rainbow-colored inside shell. Abalone is usually harvested by divers and prized for its meat as well as its beauty.

Shells are mineral structures formed by aquatic creatures and land mollusks. Lustrous shells including mother-of-pearl have been carved into cameos and buttons since antiquity. The beauty and variety of shells make them a sought-after decorative material.