These dyed mussel shells are shimmery and vibrant. They are a tier of different sized shells that have an overall stunning effect, and remind me of fish scales! This pair has shades of orange, yellow and refd layered upon each other. The metal components are all silver plated surgical steel, so you will not get any allergies. They make a beautiful tinkle sound when you move. These are made from dyed mussel shells, so the front sides of the shells are vibrant, smooth and shiny and the backsides are more muted and natural like a shell (refer to the photo of me holding the earrings as then you can see both the front and the back sides). They are approximately 6cm/ 2.5inches from the base of the earwire to bottom of the largest shell and 4 cm/ 1.5 inches across the widest part.