Paua is the species of abalone shell (Haliotis iris) found only in the cold waters of southern New Zealand. The coloring varies from shell to shell and has an amazing iridescence. The lighting in the photo above does not do justice to the array of colors found in these pieces. The pieces vary in size and shape and come from shells that have been tumbled to a natural, satin, or high gloss finish. Please note that there will be some degree of broken or chipped shells. If you only need a small quantity, our Packaged Paua Shells may be an alternative.
The government of New Zealand strictly controls the harvesting of abalone for food. The shells are a natural by-product.
There are many uses for the tumbled pieces. They are great for inlay work. They can be put in the bottom of an aquarium or fountain for decoration. They can be used for jewelry. Some pieces have the natural holes found on the edge of the shell and are nice on jewelry or leather bags. You will need to drill the shell under water. Do not breathe shell dust. This is very hard on your lungs.
Satin Finish Pieces - These are tumbled to a polished finish. They are available in assorted sizes. The satin finish pieces are good quality shell pieces that tend to be thicker than the gloss finish shells. They are processed with cream and corn grit.
Premium - These are larger pieces, usually 2" to 4" (5-10 cm) from the main body of the shell and have larger patches of coloration. Not all pieces are flat, some pieces are curved. In a random sample, we had 53 pieces in one pound (giving an average cost of US$2.23 each). These are tumbled with a polished finish.
You do not have to order a full pound of tumbled pieces, but can order 1/4 pound, 1/2 pound or 3/4 pound if desired.
Please note that we are offering tumbled pieces of paua. Some pieces will be very nicely tumbled and polished. Some will have rougher edges. Some quantity will have chips or be broken. We are not selling the paua as flawless, individually packaged pieces. We have many satisfied customers for this grade of paua. If, however, you are not pleased with what you received, please call us and send back 100% of the shell; we cannot accept partial returns on this product. We do not allow customers to high-grade or cherry-pick the pieces and send the rest back
A USFWS export permit is required for all shipments outside the USA.
Paua are not an endangered species and are not subject to CITES controls.