But in watchmaking, it only gained traction in the 20th century, when advances in cutting techniques finally allowed artisans to tame its fragility.

The perfect slice? A few tenths of a millimeter, just enough to catch the light, but not your clumsy handling.

And what a light show it is. Depending on the angle, mother-of-pearl can shift from soft pink to icy green, sometimes with flashes of violet or gold.

That makes every watch a one-off, and every glance at your wrist slightly different from the last.

With all that shimmer and reflection, reading the time can feel like a secondary function. But honestly, when your dial looks this good, who’s checking the minutes anyway?