Puka Shells, Boracay Beach and Elizabeth Taylor

Puka Shells are actually part of the core of a shell. The action of waves, rocks and sand slowly grinds down the shell until all that is left after a hundred years or so is a small part of its core.

 

These tiny shells are glossy white with a porcelain-like finish and round with concentric lines.

 

Puka Shell jewelry became popular at the end of the 1970's when Elizabeth Taylor appeared in celebrity circles wearing a puka shell necklace.

 

Incidentally, Elizabeth Taylor has never been to Boracay Island Philippines, Puka Shells exist on many beaches throughout the world. Dame Elizabeth Taylor came upon the prized Puka Shell while in Hawaii on vacation.

 

Puka shells are pieces of a Cone Snail shell. Puka is the Hawaiian word for "hole" and refers to the naturally occurring hole in the middle of the shell fragment.

 

The shell of the Cone Snail is cone-shaped, and closed at the larger end. While the abandoned shell is tossed in the surf and coral rubble, the pointed end is ground into sand. The "puka" is formed when the minor apex of the large end is eroded by the same forces that wear off the point.

 

Puka Shells are found only on Yapak Beach, now called Puka Shell Beach, and dug out of the sand and made into necklaces and other jewelry until nearly all were gone.

 

Today, nature lovers are advised to leave the rare puka shells where they are because collecting, selling and buying them are prohibited by Philippine law.

 

 

 

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