Paua

In general, paua (pronounced “pah-wah”) refers to an abalone inlay that displays the most variation in both color and iridescence. More precisely, it is the inner nacre of the New Zealand abalone species, Haliotis iris, that produces the most dramatic and intense blue, green, and purple coloration, with a rainbow of highlights that can change hue as the shell is viewed at different angles. In the right light, paua may actually appear to be backlit.