Different types of jewelry made from shell

Shell jewelry has been found in ancient archeological ruins from the southwest of the United States to Egypt. At that time, shells were considered as the valuable jewelry. Today, there are more and more different types of shells are used into jewelry.
Cowrie shell
During the history, the cowrie shell was considered as the currency of Africa. The writing recorded cowrie shell buried in the tombs of the Pharaohs of Egypt and adorning cave walls throughout Africa. This kind of shells is quite smooth and has a porcelain-type shine to them and have been used as jewelry in several countries for thousands of years. In general, cowrie shell was made for necklace and bracelet, hung as pendants and earrings.
Paua shell
Paua shell is only found in New Zealand deep water. The paua is a member of the abalone family, and its shell has iridescent colors ranging from greens and blues to pinks and purples. The paua shell is usually made into pendants and earrings of various shapes, where it is inlaid into metals, usually silver or gold. The shell can be made into beads and strung as bracelets.
These two kinds of shell jewelry are the most popular in the world.