Known for her innovative vision of pearls, Melanie Georgacopoulos masterfully blends tradition and modernity in a truly unique way.
With a keen eye for detail and a genuine passion for natural materials, she transforms shells and pearls into contemporary jewelry full of charm and refinement.
Through her creations, Melanie invites the public to rediscover the beauty of pearls beyond classical conventions.
We all know what our birthstone is, but which pearl or shell represents your birth month?
With so many wonderful varieties to explore, surely pearls and shells deserve more than just the month of June? Jewellery designer Melanie Georgacopoulos certainly believes so, she felt it was high time pearls have their own calendar and has created a lustrous alternative to classic birthstones. She is shining the spotlight on a different pearl or shell each month, starting with shimmering white mother of pearl for January.
For those who are unfamiliar with this beautiful material lets delve into it’s origin, characteristics and uses.
What exactly is white mother of pearl?
White MOP, or silver-lipped oyster shell if we are being technical, is a natural material formed by certain molluscs, such as pearl oysters and freshwater mussels, as part of their inner shell lining. These oysters are typically found in the waters of Australia, the Philippines and Indonesia, at depths between 8-40 metres. Mother of pearl is also referred to as nacre, which is the same substance that forms pearls, it is valued for its radiant, iridescent appearance. As a material it has been used for thousands of years to make buttons, watch faces, as inlay on decorative items such as furniture, cutlery or musical instruments, and of course in jewellery.
The majority of white mother of pearl comes from the Pinctada Maxima oyster, which are the same oysters that produce South Sea pearls. These oysters can grow up to 30cm in diameter, meaning lots of glorious nacre! Because of this, designers such as Melanie can source large pieces of white MOP, allowing for bigger designs with white, than would be possible to make with other colours of mother of pearl. Her Diamond Hinge Bracelet for example, uses the largest possible flat sections of white nacre.
Mother of pearl is a surprisingly strong and durable material due to its interlocking structural composition. It can however be prone to surface scratches so it is advised to store it separately and it should also not be exposed to chemicals as they can dull its shine! Be sure to always remove your MOP jewels before showering or swimming, applying lotions or spraying perfume!
For more information on caring for shell and pearl jewellery visit Melanie Georgacopoulos and be sure to sign up to her newsletter to discover Februarys pearl of the month!