New Zealand’s Iridescent Pāua Abalone
Unique to the chilly, nutrient-dense coastal waters of New Zealand’s South Island, Pāua (Haliotis iris) is the most colorful abalone species on Earth. Here is how nature stacks microscopic crystals to create electric blue and peacock-green fire.
01Cold Waters and Crystalline Layers
Pāua is the Māori name for three native species of abalone, but it is Haliotis iris—the blackfoot pāua—that produces the world's most vivid shell. Thriving in the rocky sub-tidal zones of New Zealand's South Island, these marine mollusks feed on nutrient-rich macroalgae in cold, turbulent ocean currents.
The intense iridescence is not caused by pigment, but by structural physics. As the pāua grows, it deposits alternating microscopic layers of aragonite (a form of calcium carbonate, CaCO₃) and dark conchiolin protein. As light passes through these microscopic crystal tiles, it refracts and diffracts, bouncing off multiple internal layers to produce vivid electric blues, royal violets, emerald greens, and fiery pinks.
02A Treasured Taonga
To the Māori, Pāua shells are revered taonga (treasures) gifted by Tangaroa, the god of the ocean. For centuries, these iridescent shells have adorned traditional tribal art, carving, and weapons to illuminate the eyes of ancestors (whakairo).
All Pāua shell used in Oli&J creations is sustainably harvested under strict quotas by licensed free-divers along the South Island coastline. Once harvested, the outer crust is hand-buffed to expose the vivid shell underneath, which we cut into sharp geometric panels for our contemporary jewelry designs.
Discover Pāua Jewellery
Explore our limited-edition jewelry featuring authentic South Island Pāua shell encased in modern architectural settings.
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