What is it? Well, many of the manicures feature this ethereal, pearly, opalescent finish, a bit like the mother-of-pearl-insides of a mollusc shell. So there, I’m calling it: shell nails are ...

Fine large shells of a dead white are supplied by Singapore. Common varieties come irom Bombay and Valgraiso, from the latter place with jet black edges. South Sea pearl-shells are common ...