The Duke of Pearl

I have been searching everywhere for a place that I can purchase shell here in the US. I have only found a small handful of people or businesses that actually sell usable amounts of shell. I can import abalone or oyster shell if I want to purchase quantities as small as a mere ton from several suppliers but could not find a place that sells to small businesses like mine. Until now. I recently met a gentleman named Chuck Erikson who has a company called The Duke of Pearl. I was very impressed by the quality and the variety of shell blanks, dots, feathers, and other inlay pieces that are available from their website http://www.dukeofpearl.com/

This business is geared toward making products for inlay on musical instruments. They do however sell some raw shell as well as blanks of several thicknesses that are perfect for the the type of bone inlay jewelry that I make. They also have instructional guides as well if I remember correctly. I definitely want to put the heads up out there for anyone that works in the shell and or jewelry industry that this is the place to look for quality shell inlay materials. Its definitely worth checking them out