The Aurora shell clutch carried by a model, styled for evening
The Aurora natural mother-of-pearl clutch, front view — Gullye
The Aurora shell clutch, three-quarter view
The Aurora shell clutch worn by a model as an evening accessory
Image 1 of 4

Sold out

The Aurora

$395

Sold out. We cast in small batches, and the waitlist is told first.

Someone will ask. Someone always does.

A large oval mother-of-pearl shell, nine inches across, with iridescent bands of white, blue, green, and pink that shift with every movement, the same physics that lights the night sky. The biggest piece in the shell collection, and the only one that carries a full evening. Two were made, each from its own shell.

Materials
Natural mother-of-pearl shell, gold-tone metal frame
Dimensions
9"L × 1.5"W × 6"H
Capacity
Holds phone, cards, cash, lipstick, keys
Interior
Pink suede
Closure
Metal frame with crystal-detail closure
Chain
Gold-tone, 20" drop, detachable
Surface
Natural mother-of-pearl, large flowing iridescent bands, unique to this shell
Origin
Handmade in India
Production
Two exist, each from its own shell

The Aurora is a natural mother-of-pearl shell with an untreated nacre surface. Wipe gently with a dry soft cloth after each use. Do not expose it to water, perfume, hairspray, or chemical cleaners, which will dull and eventually strip the nacre. Avoid prolonged sunlight. Handle the frame and crystal closure like fine jewelry. Store in the Gullye dust bag.

Dispatched within 1 to 2 business days by FedEx Ground, arriving in 2 to 7 days across the U.S. Your tracking follows the moment it leaves us. Should it ever need to come home, you have 30 days from delivery.

How many were made?

Two, each from its own shell. Because every shell is a different shape and surface, no identical third can be made. When these sell, the piece is retired.

Is the iridescence real or treated?

Entirely natural. The surface is not lacquered or coated. The shifting bands are the nacre responding to light, so no two moments with it look the same.

What fits inside?

At 9" across and 6" tall, it carries a full evening, phone, wallet, cards, keys, lipstick. It is the most functional piece in the shell collection.

Can I wear it crossbody?

Yes. The gold-tone chain attaches to the frame for shoulder wear, and it can also be held as a clutch.

The story

The aurora in the sky and the surface of a mother-of-pearl shell come from the same thing: light interference, where waves pass through layered structures and emerge as colors that were not there before. In the sky it happens in the upper atmosphere. In the shell it happens in the nacre. Either way the result is bands of color that move and refuse to sit still. You see one thing, you move, and you see another.

At nine inches across, the Aurora is the largest piece in the shell collection and the only one that carries a full evening, phone, cards, cash, keys, inside a shell the ocean spent years building. The gold-tone frame follows the natural oval of the shell; the crystal at the closure catches light the same way the surface does.

Two were made, each from its own shell. No third is possible, the next shell would be a different shape and a different play of color entirely.
Complimentary U.S. shipping on every order30-day easy returnsAuthenticity guaranteedSecure encrypted checkoutComplimentary U.S. shipping on every order30-day easy returnsAuthenticity guaranteedSecure encrypted checkout

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Genuine shell & hand-cast brass

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What is Gullye

What is Gullye

Gullye finds its soul in the forgotten lanes, where quiet hands shape beauty that the world often overlooks. We bring these stories forward not as relics of the past, but as living treasures meant to be cherished.

What goes into what we makeA note from our founder

The house of Gullye

Slow by hand.

Heirloom objects from the workshops of South Asia, made in editions, never in factories.

The Aurora shell clutch carried by a model, styled for eveningThe Aurora natural mother-of-pearl clutch, front view — GullyeThe Aurora shell clutch, three-quarter viewThe Aurora shell clutch worn by a model as an evening accessory
The shell atelier

The Aurora

$395Join waitlist

Someone will ask. Someone always does.

A large oval mother-of-pearl shell, nine inches across, with iridescent bands of white, blue, green, and pink that shift with every movement, the same physics that lights the night sky. The biggest piece in the shell collection, and the only one that carries a full evening. Two were made, each from its own shell.

We cast in small batches·You will be first to know
The maker's mark
TechniqueNatural mother-of-pearl · hand-set frame
MaterialsNatural mother-of-pearl shell, gold-tone frame, crystal closure
All spoken for

Gullye makes sculptural pieces by hand, in small editions, with master artisans in Jaipur. Once an edition sells out, it is retired.

The specification

MaterialsNatural mother-of-pearl shell, gold-tone metal frame
Dimensions9"L × 1.5"W × 6"H
CapacityHolds phone, cards, cash, lipstick, keys
InteriorPink suede
ClosureMetal frame with crystal-detail closure
ChainGold-tone, 20" drop, detachable
SurfaceNatural mother-of-pearl, large flowing iridescent bands, unique to this shell
OriginHandmade in India
ProductionTwo exist, each from its own shell
Care

The Aurora is a natural mother-of-pearl shell with an untreated nacre surface. Wipe gently with a dry soft cloth after each use. Do not expose it to water, perfume, hairspray, or chemical cleaners, which will dull and eventually strip the nacre. Avoid prolonged sunlight. Handle the frame and crystal closure like fine jewelry. Store in the Gullye dust bag.

In confidence

How many were made? Two, each from its own shell. Because every shell is a different shape and surface, no identical third can be made. When these sell, the piece is retired.

Is the iridescence real or treated? Entirely natural. The surface is not lacquered or coated. The shifting bands are the nacre responding to light, so no two moments with it look the same.

What fits inside? At 9" across and 6" tall, it carries a full evening, phone, wallet, cards, keys, lipstick. It is the most functional piece in the shell collection.

Can I wear it crossbody? Yes. The gold-tone chain attaches to the frame for shoulder wear, and it can also be held as a clutch.

Brass atelier: polishing a hand-cast brass clutch on the buffing wheel
From the atelier

The aurora in the sky and the surface of a mother-of-pearl shell come from the same thing: light interference, where waves pass through layered structures and emerge as colors that were not there before. In the sky it happens in the upper atmosphere. In the shell it happens in the nacre. Either way the result is bands of color that move and refuse to sit still. You see one thing, you move, and you see another.

Understand the craft How Shell comes to be Read the story →
Ethically sourced · Mindfully made · Sustainable · Traditionally rooted
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The Aurora

The Aurora

Regular price $395
Regular price Sale price $395
Sale Sold out
Complimentary U.S. shipping on every order.
  • Ships in 1–2 business days
  • Tracked Delivery
  • 30-day Easy Returns

A large oval mother-of-pearl shell, nine inches across, with iridescent bands of white, blue, green, and pink that shift with every movement, the same physics that lights the night sky. The biggest piece in the shell collection, and the only one that carries a full evening. Two were made, each from its own shell.

Product Details

Materials
Natural mother-of-pearl shell, gold-tone metal frame
Dimensions
9"L × 1.5"W × 6"H
Capacity
Holds phone, cards, cash, lipstick, keys
Interior
Pink suede
Closure
Metal frame with crystal-detail closure
Chain
Gold-tone, 20" drop, detachable
Surface
Natural mother-of-pearl, large flowing iridescent bands, unique to this shell
Origin
Handmade in India
Production
Two exist, each from its own shell

Care

The Aurora is a natural mother-of-pearl shell with an untreated nacre surface. Wipe gently with a dry soft cloth after each use. Do not expose it to water, perfume, hairspray, or chemical cleaners, which will dull and eventually strip the nacre. Avoid prolonged sunlight. Handle the frame and crystal closure like fine jewelry. Store in the Gullye dust bag.

Shipping & Returns

Shipping

  • Dispatches in 1–2 business days.
  • U.S. delivery typically 2–7 days (FedEx Ground).
  • Tracking is emailed at dispatch.

Returns

  • Returns accepted within 30 days of delivery on unused items in original packaging.

FAQs

How many were made?

Two, each from its own shell. Because every shell is a different shape and surface, no identical third can be made. When these sell, the piece is retired.

Is the iridescence real or treated?

Entirely natural. The surface is not lacquered or coated. The shifting bands are the nacre responding to light, so no two moments with it look the same.

What fits inside?

At 9" across and 6" tall, it carries a full evening, phone, wallet, cards, keys, lipstick. It is the most functional piece in the shell collection.

Can I wear it crossbody?

Yes. The gold-tone chain attaches to the frame for shoulder wear, and it can also be held as a clutch.

View full details
  • The aurora in the sky and the surface of a mother-of-pearl shell come from the same thing: light interference, where waves pass through layered structures and emerge as colors that were not there before. In the sky it happens in the upper atmosphere. In the shell it happens in the nacre. Either way the result is bands of color that move and refuse to sit still. You see one thing, you move, and you see another.

    At nine inches across, the Aurora is the largest piece in the shell collection and the only one that carries a full evening, phone, cards, cash, keys, inside a shell the ocean spent years building. The gold-tone frame follows the natural oval of the shell; the crystal at the closure catches light the same way the surface does.

    Two were made, each from its own shell. No third is possible, the next shell would be a different shape and a different play of color entirely.