If it is real shell MOP, it scratches easily, and the iridescent colors dull. MOP jewelry can be cleaned with mild soap and water, but anything stronger will damage the surface. It goes dull, and can't be polished back to glittery.

It's meant for bar-backs and other low-use areas.

If you like the look, consider iridescent glass tile.

Sorry to come back to this thread so late - had to go out of town all of a sudden and couldn't follow up!

Thank you for the information on MOP tiles. I definitely am worried about durability. Also, at $21 psf, which is what a local tile store quoted me, I can't afford for it to look bad in a few years.

LazyGardens, or anyone, could you point me in the direction of iridescent glass tile that looks like Mother of Pearl? I saw a few samples this weekend but they were very "fake" looking - that was just at one place, though. I'm sure nicer versions exist.

Thanks in advance!

Try some of the iridescent tiles in light colors from Oceanside Glass Tiles. One of their lines even has a color named pearl, but I don't remember which one.

Check the clearance center, too

Here is a link that might be useful: Oceanside

I recently used some MOP tiles for mosaic/art work. They were actually called "abalone," but I think they're the same thing. They're available in several colors, and are shimmery and gorgeous.

These puppies are amazingly HARD! They are impossible to cut with regular 2-wheeled glass tile cutters, so I used them whole and mixed them in with glass tiles.

They look completely different from glass tiles. I don't think you could reproduce the look with glass. Yes, they are quite thin, but they are strong as can be--much stronger than glass or porcelain tiles.

I back-buttered the abalone/MOP with extra thinset b/c they are thinner than the glass tiles I was using. No problem.

Grouting was not an issue in any way--there was no staining. I don't understand what the concern about grouting might be, in fact. They grouted up and cleaned up just like the glass tiles.

Because I was using these for an art mosaic and not a standard installation, I did not use mesh. The tiles were loose, so I can't comment on any mesh-related issues.

Hope this helps.

Thanks - I will check out Oceanside tiles and also look for abalone tiles.

Ideally, I can collect several samples and after the cabinets and countertops are in, compare them!

Hi,becky.I am install the shell mosaic before. My idea is that"You should clean them when the building sealant is half dry after you filled with the mosaic chips space.Then you use the high qualuty sponge to put some clean water inside the 1-2mm chips space.
Then the last step use the fry towel clean the mosaic surface is ok.Many guy who may distory the mosaic surface shiny,only because they are clean them to late..and all the sealant are totally dry."In fact,the shell mosaic don't have any difference with the common mosaic,except their thickness...And the below is the website link about teaching you how to clean the shell mosaic ..hoping give you some help

Here is a link that might be useful: how to clean the mother of pearl mosaic