Ormer Shells

The Ormer is a protected species in Guernsey waters and collecting them is strictly controlled. There are only a few ‘Ormering tides’ a year, when these delicate creatures are allowed to be taken from the beaches. Diving for them is prohibited, they must only be collected by wading, and only when they reach a certain size and level of maturity.

The ormer shells used in my jewellery are much smaller than those allowed to be collected, they are the natural wastage from the old Rocquaine Ormer farm, which has now closed due to retirement. Ormers are no longer farmed in Guernsey.