ZVERK Collection:
What Our Jewelry Is Made Of
In this blog, I will share which materials we use, why we choose them, and what makes them valuable.
This is the story of what Mari Moth jewelry is made of and what makes it truly premium.
Each piece is handcrafted — from selecting pearls and abalone to the final assembly.
It is this handmade process that preserves the uniqueness and character of every design
Abalone Paua Mother-of-Pearl
I truly love working with this material.
Abalone Paua (Haliotis iris) is a marine mollusk found exclusively off the coast of New Zealand.
Its mother-of-pearl is created by nature itself as part of the inner shell surface and possesses a unique iridescent glow
in shades of blue, green, and violet — a true natural gem, rare and one of a kind.
In Mari Moth jewelry, I mainly use raw Abalone Paua pieces — natural fragments with unique patterns.
They preserve their organic asymmetry, making every element absolutely unrepeatable.
At times, I also choose polished round inserts of Abalon, which bring structure and a sense of balance to the design
Natural Baroque Pearls
For me, pearls are living poetry of nature. They form inside a mollusk when a grain of sand or
an organic particle enters the shell. The mollusk begins to cover it with layers of nacre, and over time, a pearl is born.
Perfectly round pearls are extremely rare in nature.
Most often, they appear through human intervention:
an ideally round nacre bead is placed inside the mollusk, and it coats it layer by layer.
This is how perfectly symmetrical pearls are created.
Baroque pearls are the ones I love most. They appear naturally when nacre is deposited unevenly.
Their shapes are always different: drops, ovals, or imaginative curves.
Sometimes nature gives us elongated baroque pearls — slender, refined, and full of character.
The fine lines on pearls are natural growth marks of nacre layers.
They form when nacre is laid unevenly by the mollusk and serve as proof of the pearl’s authenticity and natural origin.
Mother-of-pearl is a remarkable natural material formed on the inner surface of a mollusk shell.
It is created by layers of aragonite crystals laid one over another, giving it a signature soft, milky luster and delicate iridescence.
To transform mother-of-pearl into a jewelry element, it is carefully cut from the shell, shaped, ground, and polished —
into round, oval, or elongated forms. It is then set in a frame or used as a standalone bead.
Each piece of mother-of-pearl is a fragment of nature’s architecture, making every design unique and distinctive
18–24K Gold Plating
When I work with chains and hardware, it’s important to me that they don’t look like “costume jewelry”
but rather like true fine jewelry.
That’s why I choose 18–24K gold plating.
18K gold contains 75% pure gold and has a rich, warm hue.
24K gold is almost pure gold, deep and radiant.
18–24K gold plating is widely used in premium fashion jewelry and accessories by leading fashion houses such as Dior, Hermès, and Gucci.
With the right technology (PVD, IP), this coating preserves its shine for much longer
Plating
I pay attention to every detail, and even the coating technology plays an important role.
PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) and IP (Ion Plating) are modern vacuum methods in which gold particles
are deposited onto the metal in multiple layers.
This coating adheres firmly, does not wear off quickly, and has a more luxurious look.
Electroplating (Galvanic plating) is the classic method:
the metal is immersed in a solution, and an electric current forms a thin layer on the surface.
However, it wears off easily, especially in areas of friction.
That’s why I always choose PVD and IP — they are beautiful, reliable, and long-lasting
Metals: Stainless Steel and Brass
In the collection’s jewelry, I combine different metals depending on their purpose:
Stainless steel 304–316L serves as the base for durable components.
It does not rust or tarnish, even when in contact with water or sweat.
316L is known as “surgical steel” and is widely used in medicine.
This metal is incredibly durable and hypoallergenic.
Brass is used for molded decorative elements because it is softer, more malleable
and easy to work with, which allows for creating a variety of shapes
Also I love working with contrasts. In Mari Moth jewelry, stainless steel in a silver tone is often combined with 18–24K gold plating.
In areas with high friction (clasps, links, chains), I use steel, as it preserves its look much better.
Gold-plated elements are added as accents to bring luxury and brilliance.
This combination not only looks beautiful but also makes the jewelry more durable.
In the ZVERK collection, every material is chosen with intention.
I combine the aesthetics of high fashion with strength and durability, so that each piece of jewelry is not just an accessory
but a story about a woman’s power, status, and uniqueness.
Choose your ZVERK element and feel how it reveals your energy
https://marimoth.com/zverk-collection