Raden, Abalone, and Mother of Pearl: the Beauty of Nacre

Fountain pens can be made from a wide variety of things, including resin, ABS plastic, and celluloid; metals like silver, gold, rhodium, brass, copper, stainless steel, titanium, and aluminum; and even materials sourced from trees, like ebonite, Urushi lacquer, and wood.  But did you know that some fountain pens are made from a substance that was once part of living ocean animals?  In this article, I'd like to focus on one of the most eye-catching, mysterious, and confusing fountain pen materials:  nacre.  If you've never heard of nacre, that's okay!  You may have encountered the related terms Raden, abalone, or mother of pearl.

What kinds of pens are made with nacre?  What makes them desirable and special?  And, are they pens you might want to try?  It may surprise you that the pens range in price from around $100 to over $15,000 and include ballpoints and rollerballs as well as fountain pens.  Some are rare, collectible, breathtaking works of art, and others are attainable writing companions that you can use every day.

[Note:  I wrote the first version of this article in August 2025, but there are so many beautiful nacre pens in the store now that didn't make the original article, so I knew I had to update it and share!  Look for a companion episode of Laura's Loupe coming to YouTube in the near future, too.]

What is Nacre?

Nacre, Raden, abalone, and mother of pearl are all interrelated, and it can get very confusing, so I'll do my best to explain them clearly and succinctly!   

Nacre (nay-kur), commonly known as mother of pearl, is an organic–inorganic composite produced by some mollusks as their inner shell lining.  Its formation begins as tiny particles grouping together inside the shell to form brittle hexagonal platelets of aragonite (a form of crystalline calcium carbonate).  These come together in thin layers, arranged in a brick-like overlapping pattern, surrounded by a "mortar" of strong and flexible sheets of biopolymers formed by the cells of the mollusk's mantle (the soft, fleshy, outer covering of its body wall, between the shell and internal organs).  The combination is continuously deposited onto the inner surface of the shell, trapping parasites and debris particles within its successive layers and protecting the animal's soft tissues with a smooth and beautiful internal armor.

[Pictured:  abalone shell nacre.]

Nacre is also the same material from which nacreous pearls (the kind used in jewelry) are formed.  It is strong, resilient, and often very iridescent, with luminescent colors that change when viewed from different angles.  Because the thickness of the aragonite platelets is close to the wavelength of visible light, the structure of nacre interacts with light to produce a fascinating array of colors that humans have found irresistible since ancient times.

[Pictured:  Japanese pearls inherited from my grandmother, and a heart-shaped mother-of-pearl charm made by a relative while they were stationed on a Pacific island during WWII in the U.S. military, using a shell that had washed up on the beach.]

Fascinatingly, mollusks with iridescent or pearly shell linings are usually the more primitive species.  The most common commercial sources of nacre are pearl oysters and freshwater pearl mussels, but it is also harvested from the shells of abalone (a type of sea snail) and can be found in some of the most ancient lineages of bivalves, gastropods, and cephalopods.  However, the great majority of mollusk shells do not have a nacreous inner layer, so those that do are special and are greatly admired for their beauty.

[My drawing of an abalone and oyster was done with an extra fine Pilot E95s in Pilot Blue Black ink on Tomoe River paper.]

Although "mother of pearl" is just a colloquialism for nacre, it is used slightly differently than the word "nacre."  The two are interchangeable when describing the inner shell lining, but beautiful decorative objects that are made from shimmering, iridescent milky white nacre material are much more often referred to as being "mother of pearl." You might hear about mother of pearl buttons, caviar spoons, musical instruments, jewelry, or works of art.  The nacre used for these is usually sourced from pearl oysters, and the base color can be white or cream and often includes pale shades of green, yellow, silver, blue, and pink.

Less often, you may come across black mother of pearl, sourced from Tahitian black-lipped oysters.  It's more of a charcoal color, and usually displays shades of purple, blue, and silvery green.  When sourced from Fiji, it often leans more toward chocolate, bronze, and gold, alongside charcoal, dark pink, and peacock green.  There are also pink and gold varieties, from other types of oysters.  Mother of pearl colors can vary a lot, and are influenced by the species and location.

[Pictured:  Monteverde Regatta Rollerball pens in White Mother of Pearl and Black Mother of Pearl, along with some of my mother of pearl jewelry. The book is Star, Branch, Spiral, Fan by Yellena James, an artist and illustrator I discovered on Instagram!]

A number of brands--in particular Monteverde, Conklin, and Opus 88--have made mid-range pens that feature mother of pearl or abalone, and nacre is also used on many other higher-end pens, some of which I'll talk more about below.

Do be observant when you are reading descriptions of pens, though.  "Mother of pearl," "pearl," and "abalone" are sometimes used as adjectives to describe a pearlescent finish or a color, so, when you see the words, make sure the pen is actually made from real nacre, not resin that resembles it. Those pens can be beautiful, but, if you are looking for actual material sourced from an ocean creature, it's not the same thing.

Mother of Pearl in Action

My latest nacre discovery is from Opus 88, a Taiwanese brand I enjoyed writing about this spring, and the focus of one of my first Laura's Loupe episodes.  A few weeks after the episode aired, the Premium Shell fountain pen collection caught my eye at the DC Pen Show.  It isn't a model we had previously carried at Pen Boutique, and it also isn't an eyedropper-filled pen like most Opus 88s.  To my surprise, the Premium Shell collection fills by a Standard International converter or cartridge. But I didn't even know that when I decided I wanted one. I chose one for myself because it's different and classy-looking, and it's a simply gorgeous (but affordable) showcase for mother of pearl and abalone.

There are three models in the collection (pictured front to back, above):  Stripe Shell, Check Shell, and Black Mother of Pearl Shell.  It's very hard to choose a favorite, because they all display nacre so beautifully. 

Stripe Shell features stripes of white mother of pearl and green abalone separated by lines of crisp black acrylic.  I love the pinstripe look, and the way the black stripes serve to accentuate and contrast the two harmonious but different nacre materials.

Check Shell also features green abalone and white mother of pearl, but in an unusual checkered arrangement with no lines between them, for a very different look, which is softer but also quite dynamic.  The rectangular blocks are wider than the stripes on the Stripe Shell model, so they show off the iridescent patterns even more, and the pieces chosen have swirling patterns on a slightly different scale.  The selection and arrangement of pieces on these pens is definitely not random!

As the name suggests, the Black Mother of Pearl pen features black mother of pearl, but it's much lighter than the black mother of pearl on Monteverde's pens, displaying warm brown and golden tones for a look reminiscent of glowing candlelight.

All three pens' mother of pearl barrels are sturdy brass underneath, and are offset by shiny silver-colored metal trim and a cap, grip section, and end finial made from matte black ebonite.  When I first got my pen, I didn't realize the accents were ebonite, but they definitely are!  They have a very faint rubber smell, and a very special look and feel.  Ebonite will change in appearance over time as you use it, and will develop a warm and comfortable tactile handfeel, influenced by your touch and the oils on your skin.  Its factory finish can also dull and lighten slightly as it is exposed to UV light, heat, moisture, and oxygen.  These organic changes give each pen a unique look, similar to the way some metal pens or leather notebooks will patina.  My own pen's ebonite parts already look slightly lighter than they did when it was new, but they have faded evenly, and I love the feel of the material.

The Regatta's cap and barrel, shimmering with strips of mother of pearl, appear faceted but are actually smooth, and the knurled diamond-cut rings between sections are slightly recessed, so they add visual interest and glitter as they catch the light, but don't catch against anything when you handle the pen.

The streamlined cap is held on by a strong magnet and can be posted on the end of the pens with this same strong magnet.  Uncapping, posting, and re-capping are all very satisfying feelings!  This is a sturdy and weighty pen with a charismatic look.

Although mother of pearl can be used as a dramatic allover covering on writing instruments, you will also find it featured more subtly, as a lovely accent detail.  The snowcap emblem on the finial of some Montblanc pens is made from precious mother of pearl for an additional elegant touch.  My favorite is the unforgettable Patron of Art Moctezuma Limited Edition 888!

[Pictured: Montblanc Limited Edition 888 Patron of Art Moctezuma and Meisterstück Great Masters Pirelli finials with mother of pearl emblems.]

Abalone

Nacre that comes from an abalone (ab-aloney) shell is rarer, usually more expensive, and more colorful.  Abalone is a type of mother of pearl, and looks more like a highly iridescent dark rainbow, with intense, changeable colors often heavy on greens and blues, but also with colors like pink, purple, and fuchsia.  When used in decorative objects, nacre from an abalone shell is usually just called "abalone." It can also be described as "mother of pearl," though, and this is not wrong.  Like oysters, abalone is edible, and I got to try locally grown abalone at a restaurant in 2012, supplied by the abalone farm at  NELHA. It was delicious, and I saved the shell as a memento.

The Conklin Duragraph Abalone Nights fountain pen is perfect for abalone lovers on a budget.  This beautiful pen with a classic 1920s silhouette comes with a converter and two cartridges, and retails for only $105. Like the Opus 88, it features a large #6-size JoWo nib, but showcases Conklin's historic crescent and "Toledo, USA" branding. Like the Regatta, this pen's barrel appears faceted but is actually smooth, with strips of abalone covered with green, silver, azure blue, violet, pink, gold and black swirls that change constantly as you turn the pen in your hand, and as the light in your room shifts.

I took the photo above on an overcast day by my window, but, as I write this article at night in a dimly lit room, the pink, violet, and gold shades on the same pen are more prominent.  So cool! I like how the wildly iridescent abalone is offset by classy black accents, balancing the nacre's intensity.

The retired limited edition abalone Monteverde Invincia Deluxe pens are completely covered in authentic abalone shell from New Zealand, and are another affordable opportunity to satisfy an intense craving for nacre.  Their eye-catching colors dance like flames, with rich azure blues and radiant greens, mixed with turquoise, violet, orange, and golden yellows.  Abalone nacre is truly one of nature's wonders!

As this is a retired pen, our supplies are very limited, and we now only have ballpoints left.  They are numbered on the ring, and available with shiny silver chrome-plated, rose gold-plated, or dark grey gunmetal-plated trim.  They are very solidly built, with a substantial but comfortable weight, and awe-inspiring to hold!  I especially like the extra-smooth feeling twist mechanism to activate the ballpoint. These pens would make such a special gift for an ocean lover. 

Abalone nacre is also the type of nacre most often used with great skill and stunning effect in the Japanese art of Raden. In the photo below, the two pens in back are Monteverde pens covered with abalone and black mother of pearl, and the four pens in front feature Japanese Raden Urushi lacquer art made with abalone. As the Raden catches the light, the luminous nacre pieces change colors when viewed from different angles, showing shiny flashes of violet, turquoise, sky blue, green, and fuchsia. It's impossible to capture the full glory of Raden in a still image. 

[Featured, from back to front:  Monteverde Invincia Deluxe abalone fountain pen, Monteverde Regatta black mother of pearl rollerball, Sailor Professional Gear Wajima Bijou Coral fountain pen, Sailor Sakura Nagare King of Pen fountain pen, Platinum Izumo Raden Galaxy fountain pen, and Pilot Vanishing Point in Raden Stripes fountain pen.]

Radiant Raden

The Japanese Raden (rod-en, not ray-den) technique raises nacre to an art form in higher-end pens usually made from Urushi lacquer, an extremely long-lasting and lustrous material made from the sap of the Urushi tree (Rhus verniciflua), a deciduous tree found only in Asia. As described by Pilot in the leaflet they include with their Urushi lacquer pens, this incredible substance was prized for its strength even before its use as a varnish was discovered.  "The flint arrowheads found all over Japan dating back to the Stone Age were mounted on bamboo poles by wedging them into a crack formed at the end of the shaft and then binding the joint with the bark of the wisteria vine, and the stone head was fixed in place with Urushi lacquer.  However, only the part of the shaft that had been impregnated with Urushi lacquer remains today," an amazing testament to the longevity of this material.

The hand-applied Urushi lacquer finish withstands corrosion from water, acids, alcohol, and temperature changes, and has a totally different feel in your hand than a resin or metal pen does.  It looks shinier, more expensive, and nicer than acrylic.  The colors look deeper and richer, and you will notice that the material looks and feels more "real," if that makes sense.  It warms to your touch and has a depth of color that can't be replicated.

[Pictured:  Pilot Vanishing Point Raden fountain pens in Water Surface, Stripes, and Galaxy.]

For the Raden technique, each pen is meticulously adorned with shimmering, hand-carved slivers of nacre that are peeled from the inner layer of the shell. They are usually from an abalone shell, but not always.  The slivers are skillfully embedded into the Urushi lacquer, and elevate the pens' beauty to a higher plane. Rather than being a material in itself, Raden is a technique that uses the material.

Below is a closeup of the Raden inlays in two of Pilot's Vanishing Point Raden pens.  The combination of the incomparably glossy deep black Urushi lacquer paired with the glamorous Raden is just breathtaking.  I love staring at these pens when I walk by our Pilot display case in the store, and I can only imagine how enjoyable it would be to own one and experience that beauty every day. My own Vanishing Point Décimo has become one of my favorite pens, and I reach for it often.  I love writing with the extra smooth but precise 18k nib, and I really appreciate being able to grab my pen, click it, and start taking notes immediately.  The Raden Vanishing Points aren't inexpensive, but when you think about the materials, time, and artistry that go into these pens, paying under $1,000 to own a highly functional work of art made by elite artisans using rare and durable Japanese Urushi lacquer doesn't seem crazy.  These pens are special.

The limited edition Platinum Izumo Raden Galaxy is an even more intense Raden experience!  The barrel and cap of the pen are made from ebonite coated with thin layers of glossy black Urushi lacquer inlaid with a stunning cascade of abalone fragments that glitter like an explosion of stars in the depths of space. The tiny pieces are different shapes and sizes, forming a glamorous mosaic-like covering for the entire pen that constantly catches the light as the pen moves in your hand, throwing off dazzling turquoise, aqua, pink, green, and violet sparkles.   

This pen is an extremely comfortable shape, size, and weight, and elevates your writing to a celebratory experience every time you use it.  The two-tone rhodium-plated 18k gold nib brings you Platinum's smooth and precise feel, with just the right amount of feedback for writers with a heavy hand, as well as those with a lighter touch.  It takes about six months of lacquering, drying, and polishing to create the stunning "Galaxy" effect!

Namiki's Aya Collection, which depicts evocative abstract patterns inspired by nature, uses Raden in a more restrained way, with just a sprinkling to accent the intensely pigmented dry lacquer powders, gold powders, and silver powders, which Namiki's skilled Maki-e artisans apply with differing intensities against a rich black Urushi lacquer background, using Togidashi Maki-e (Burnished Maki-e), a form that dates back to the 7th century. It takes many months to create one of these beautiful pens, which are signed by Namiki's Kokkokai group of Maki-e masters.

The heart of the Aya is its amazing bouncy #30-size nib, but these pens are also stunning when the sunlight hits them and highlights their rich colors and shimmering Raden sparkles. The first time I tried an Aya was at the DC Pen Show, when a collector, Lenny, showed me his beautiful Seiryuu (Limpid Stream) Aya when we were relaxing after hours.  In the dim light of the hotel lobby, it was hard to make out the pen's brilliant colors, but the magnificence of the nib and comfortable, generous proportions still made it a thrill and a pleasure to write with. Because the Aya has an ebonite base, it is surprisingly lightweight for its size, and felt great in my hand!

Later, I got to borrow our Pilot representative Bill Pearcy's pens, and wrote a whole article about what makes the Aya and Custom Urushi so special.  You can see a lot more photos in that article.  Yes, it's the nib most of all, but those sprinkles of Raden in each Aya give me a little thrill each time I catch a glimpse of their pink, violet, green, and turquoise sparkle.  Their subtleness makes them even more special.

Raden is also used subtly in the Namiki Rakucho Birds & Weeping Cherry Blossom Emperor, shown here alongside the Tokiwa (Evergreen) Namiki Aya and limited edition Shidare Sakura Raden Weeping Cherry Blossom Empress from Taccia. I love the way the Namikis' ends sparkle with just a sprinkling of Raden, while the Taccia uses larger square-cut pieces of Raden to create a cool mosaic effect on the end.  

Here's another closeup of the end of the Taccia Shidare Sakura Raden Empress.  I love how the square-cut pieces of Raden are tightly arranged at the top, then start to "fall away" and merge with the sprinkling of gold powder as your eye moves down the cap toward the bold pink cherry blossoms formed from Raden.

This edition is limited to only 100 pieces worldwide and is handcrafted in Wajima, Japan.  It combines traditional Urushi lacquer, Maki-e, and Raden techniques, with the shell inlay creating actual images of flowers and falling petals, along with a sweeping sense of movement that looks almost like ripples in water.  It's a very feminine and dynamic design that is actually very fun to look at!  And, like all Taccia Empress pens, it uses a superb King of Pen nib made by Sailor.

Another amazing example of a pen in which Raden is used to create actual images within a larger artistic composition is the Namiki Yukari Royale Golden Rose masterpiece.  Only 150 pieces were produced (with only 33 available in the US) by elite Maki-e artisan Yutaka Sato, using very refined lacquering techniques.  This pen features a combination of Togidashi-Taka Maki-e (Burnished-Raised Maki-e) to create the flowers, with mother of pearl Raden leaves depicted using the Warigai (Cracked Shell Inlaid) technique with Aogai (blue shell) to accent the entire design. The base is sprinkled with gold powder, then burnished to create a complex and beautiful three-dimensional design.

[Pictured:  Raden detail on the Namiki Yukari Royale Golden Rose.]

Then there are pens where the Raden harmonizes with other materials to form an abstract and bold allover composition.  One of my all-time favorite Raden pens is the magnificent Taccia Empress Winter's Breath, Reader's Choice Pen of the Year and Best Urushi Arts winner for 2021 by Pen World magazine.  Pen Boutique owner Leena has a Winter's Breath in her own personal collection, and she let me borrow hers to bring home and try for an earlier blog article.  Wow! Using such a beautiful pen definitely elevates the writing experience.

We have a Winter's Breath Empress in stock again, and it was a privilege to revisit its unique beauty for this article and my upcoming Laura's Loupe episode.  The colorful iridescent nacreous shell inlays always catch my attention first, of course, but, up close, I realize that the bright white rankaku eggshell inlays are equally beautiful, and it's the interplay between the two components that truly makes this pen special.

I love the fascinating irregular shapes of the pieces of shell laid out to form flowing mosaic patterns. With the abalone shell and quail egg shell working in harmony, it's like an incredibly detailed puzzle designed as a collaboration between artist and nature.  

The Namiki Emperor Rakucho Birds, which we also have in the store right now, uses Raden in a much more understated way.  Rather than calling attention to itself, its Raden adds subtle touches that complement the advanced artistry in renowned Maki-e master Masahiro Yamada's design, with tiny pink sparkles like dewdrops on some of the weeping cherry blossom petals, a concentration of glistening turquoise in a few places along the tree's bark, and the delicate sparkles shimmering on the top of the cap and on the shut-off valve knob at the end of the barrel. The focus stays on the mythical Rakucho birds, symbolizing everlasting love and companionship, and the rare Oh-hi-nuri Kawari-nuri technique, used to create an exquisite cherry bark texture.

I am also in love with the use of Raden in Sailor's limited edition Professional Gear Wajima Bijou fountain pens' beautiful end finial. The Wajima Collection uses the Wajima lacquering technique, which dates back to 1397, to create pens with a unique striped appearance.  This technique involves up to 124 individual steps, as layers of lacquer are successively applied and polished to create an especially fine finish. The colored lacquer, Raden, and gold powder are hand painted by Mr. Takuya Hino, a Wajima lacquer artisan. The 18k gold nib and gold ring are engraved with an image of a jewel to signify "Bijou" (jewel in French). You can see more of this very cool pen in my cover photo. I would love to own this one! The restrained and surprising use of Raden is especially attractive to me, and it makes me smile every time I catch a glimpse of the top of the cap in our display case.  I like to imagine how wonderful it would be to glance down at the posted cap while writing, and see the splintered aquamarine, azure, and violet abalone twinkling up at me.

Other gorgeous pens that use the Raden technique to stunning effect include limited edition Raden Maki-e pens from Pelikan, such as the M1000 Raden Stardust "Hoshikuzu" (pictured below) and Raden Infinity series.

Caring for Your Nacre Pens

Although nacre is a strong material and Urushi lacquer is extremely durable, you do need to use special consideration when caring for your mother of pearl and Raden pens.  Urushi lacquer should be protected from prolonged exposure to UV light, and also shouldn't be stored somewhere overly dry, or it can become dull, faded, and brittle over time. Mother of pearl will also lose its strength and become brittle if too dehydrated.  Pens with exposed ebonite accents, like the Opus 88 Premium Shell collection, should also be protected from UV light.

You should keep your pens away from extreme temperatures, as well, and don't soak them in water or use harsh chemicals or alcohol to clean them.  Use a soft damp cloth instead. With proper care, your pens can remain beautiful for more than a lifetime!

Our Pilot rep, Bill Pearcy, told me that Urushi "likes for you to hold it" because it absorbs the oils from your skin, and they actually keep it hydrated.  Although your nacre pens are so beautiful they may seem more like art objects than pens you'd actually use, they really like to be written with, and seeing the constantly changing iridescence as they move in your hand will definitely make you want to touch them and admire them often!

As a lover of the sea, I find it very inspiring that there are pens made with material that came from shells, and I also love that I can own a pen decorated with the same substance as my mother-of-pearl jewelry and watch face. The beauty of nacre is very special, and calls out to me. Writing about Raden and mother of pearl makes me daydream about it, and it's hard not to stare at the pens in our display cases as I pass them in the store, drinking in their beauty and remembering my many connections to the ocean over the years. Now that I own both an Opus 88 Premium Shell pen and a pen featuring the Raden technique, I can enjoy the beauty of nacre in two different ways in my own collection.

-Laura P.

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