Spiny Oyster Shell is full of character and color. The clam or oyster-like creatures that produce the orange, red to purple shell we use in jewelry come from the the Spondylus mollusk family. Even though they are called oysters, they are more closely related to Scallops which is noticeable when comparing the shells. There are several varieties that produce jewelry grade shell. They are harvested in different areas from the Pacific to along the Baja Coast. They are edible and this means the animal is harvested for both the food and the shell, which is nice from a sustainability perspective as nothing is wasted. The shell is hard and colorful so it doesn't require any treatments to be cut and polished into gemstones or beads. That makes Spiny Oyster Shell Beads an all-natural choice for beaded jewelry.