Lion's Paw scallop pearls are natural calcareous concretions from the bivalve mollusk Nodipecten subnodosus. They are native to the coastal waters of Central and North America--most frequently found off the coast of Baja, California. They are symmetrical, often found in round, drop, oval, and button shapes. Colors range from white to brown to orange with pearls frequently exhibiting a handsome deep brownish-purplish plum hue and like the Conch pearl, they are characterized as “porcelaneous” rather than “nacreous.”
The pearls often display a mosaic pattern that has a sheen or metallic three-dimensional effect when viewed in light.
Below: A Scallop Shell from a Lion's Paw Scallop