On the Art of Buttons 7: The Philosophy of Thickness

1) The price of the shell buckle is closely related to its thickness: the thicker the same kind of shell buckle, the higher the price, so most of the shell buckles used for customization are 3.0mm thick. Because of the shell buckle, the thick part is a relatively rare part. Of course, different types of shell buttons also have price differences. The current basic price rule is: white butterfly > tower snail > black butterfly > river shell. Due to hardness and other reasons, the size (diameter) of shell buttons is more limited than that of cowhide buttons and fruit buttons, so it can only be used in a small amount for buttons with a diameter of more than 2.0cm such as coats and windbreakers, which is more in line with advanced customization. demand.
2) Glossy nobility
For many gentlemen who love customization, buttons made of shell materials are usually the first choice. Natural materials are one of them, and more importantly, the colorful luster of shells often reminds people of the nobility of pearls. Human beings' pursuit of color is not limited to diamonds and various gemstones, but also the gifts of nature - shells and pearls. GIA (Gemological Institute of America) launched the identification system of pearls in 1998. The seven factors that affect the value of pearls are: gloss, roundness, smoothness, nacre (nucleated pearls), size, color and matching. From these seven factors, we can learn what are the more important aspects when choosing buttons made of shell materials.
In addition to being made into buttons, deep-sea shells are often used to make accessories. Among them, giant clams, a type of large shell distributed in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific Ocean, are known as one of the four major organic gemstones in the West. It is listed as one of the seven treasures of Buddhism in the Oriental Buddhist classic "Diamond Sutra", and accessories made of clams are usually regarded as the treasures of treasures.
3) Pacific Sigh
Due to the international division of labor and other reasons, the raw materials of commonly used shell buttons are mainly produced on the Pacific coast, such as the white butterfly shell in Australia, the black butterfly shell in Tahiti, and the snails in the Solomon Islands. However, in the past two years, due to the extensive use of white butterfly as raw materials by the luxury watch industry, the price of white butterfly has soared. Once the shells that are readily available become a hot commodity, there will be a situation where too much is too much. Some people will overfish and even kill the shells in order to get them. Therefore, in Australia and other production areas, for reasons of environmental protection, corresponding restrictions are imposed on shell picking. In fact, beef, shells, and fruits are all wealth and supreme gifts bestowed by nature to human beings. People should take them properly and know how to cherish and treat them kindly.