Vintage Mother Of Pearl Hand Carved Tahitian Pendant Choker Necklace

Tahitian mother-of-pearl necklace (Tuamotu pearl oyster), secured with a Shiva Eye shell and hoop closure on a hand-braided cord. Only after polishing does the unique color of the mother-of-pearl reveal itself. The cutting and engraving are also unique, as they are done freehand Therefore, the color and engraving may vary and differ from the photo. That little moon-eye shell is a Shiva Eye shell. Technically, it isn’t the whole shell but the operculum of a turban snail (genus Turbo). It’s the natural “door” the snail uses to seal itself inside its shell. When polished, it forms that smooth, round shape with a spiral that looks like a watchful eye. Symbolically, many people associate Shiva Eye shells with protection, intuition, and good fortune, which is why they show up so often in handcrafted necklaces and talismans