Pearl / shell

Natural pearls are typically formed in the soft tissue of mollusks such as oysters and mussels. Found inside the shells of some mollusks, especially pearl oysters and abalone. Found in the shells of abalone mollusks, primarily from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and the United States (California). Pearls: 2.5-4.5 on the Mohs scale, indicating they are relatively soft and require careful handling. Mother of Pearl: Approximately 2.5-4.5 on the Mohs scale, similar to pearls. Abalone Shell: Around 3.5-4.0 on the Mohs scale, making it a bit harder than pearls but still relatively soft compared to many other gemstones.