The combination of mother-of-pearl, the shell that nurtures pearls, and the pearls themselves, has always been on my mind.
I hesitated for a long time to use this material because I was worried that they might overlap too much since they are both made of the same nacre.
Nevertheless, at one moment, I suddenly wanted to shape that beauty.

 

The Shell That Holds Light

Mother-of-pearl.
As its name suggests, it is the "mother shell" that envelops and nurtures pearls.
The iridescent layer spreading inside softly receives light, showing shifts depending on the angle.

It is a natural beauty that has been cherished as a material for ornaments and tools since ancient times.
At sCenes, we once created a black-lipped oyster stand tray.
However, we thought about how to bring out its beauty not as an ornament or an object, but as "pearl jewelry."

The selection of the mother-of-pearl shell for use places importance on its durability and workability as jewelry.
It must have thickness and strength, and a deep expression characteristic of a pearl oyster.
The selection of white-lipped and black-lipped oysters was inevitable.

We began production with the feeling of embodying the relationship between the "mother" who envelops and nurtures the pearls and the pearls that are born from within, like "children," into a single piece of jewelry.

The Time to Find a Shape

How can the appeal of the mother-of-pearl shell be expressed alongside pearls?

Two materials with the same nacre.
What makes the shell different from the pearl is that the shell is more flexible, and its expression changes depending on how it is cut.
It seemed as if the material itself had a playful spirit, whether it was cut into small pieces for decoration or had patterns carved into it to add elements.

However, what I realized as I observed it was that the beauty of the mother-of-pearl shell has a "sparkling surface expanse" unique to pearl oysters.

Instead of using it partially, I wanted to preserve the presence of the mother-of-pearl as it is.
While searching for a simple expression, the form that felt most suitable was the "brooch."

Beauty Born from "Swaying"

In the process of designing, I envisioned the scene of pearls sparkling within a shell as they catch the light.
"Bivalve," "a single pearl," "sparkle."
We repeated trials based on these three images.

One day, the movement of a pendulum clock I saw in a corner of the office gave me a hint.
It is said that the human eye naturally follows "moving objects."
Could incorporating this movement allow us to embed a sparkle within the brooch?

The balance of overlap, a structure that hides the metal, the position where the center of gravity is shifted—.
The shell plate sways from side to side, and the attached pearl twinkles as it catches the light.

After repeated adjustments, a brooch with an intriguing "sway" that conveys the connection between pearls and mother-of-pearl was born.

A Radiance That Breathes on Your Chest

Mother-of-pearl was a material I had hesitated to use for a long time.
This brooch, which has finally taken shape, is one of sCenes' new endeavors.

I want to shed light not only on pearls but also on the mother-of-pearl behind them, and to make more people aware of the wonderful culture of cultured pearls.

I would be delighted if those who pick it up can feel the relationship between the mother-of-pearl and the pearl, which lies behind its radiance.

With the embracing nature of the mother shell and the wishes of "healing" and "harmony" embedded in mother-of-pearl.