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Plastic vs. Mother of Pearl

amirrorcrackd

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This may seem sophmoric, but, how does one tell the difference between plastic and MOP buttons? I'm trying to figure out if a Paul Smith shirt (the London line) has plastic of MOP buttons. Plus a good thing to know for future reference.

Thanks

Dan
 

Renault78law

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If you can't tell from just looking at it, try the 'tooth test.' Either lightly bite the button or tap it against a tooth - if it feels hard against your teeth it's MOP, if it feels soft it's plastic.

Try looking on the back of the button as well. Although plastic buttons sometimes try imitating the shell, they usually do a bad job.
 

bryce330

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All of the Paul Smith London shirts I have seen have had plastic buttons; the main line Paul Smith shirts have shell or MOP buttons.
 

benchan

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MOP feels cooler to touch. You can put it against your face/lips to feel it and you should able to tell the difference.
 

kabert

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Is it possible to make fake MOP? That is, plastic buttons that have the shimmering rainbow of colors that real MOP has? I actually thought this recently when looking at a DKNY shirt -- a brand I usually avoid -- but this one had great fabric and actually seemed to have MOP buttons (it was on sale from $129.95, FWIW).
 

zjpj83

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I actually like the rounded plastic buttons on my casual checked Lands End shirts. I love those shirts in general, actually.
 

BjornH

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Is it possible to make fake MOP? That is, plastic buttons that have the shimmering rainbow of colors that real MOP has? I actually thought this recently when looking at a DKNY shirt -- a brand I usually avoid -- but this one had great fabric and actually seemed to have MOP buttons (it was on sale from $129.95, FWIW).
I saw really good fakes this week as I glanced down on my Guess boxers. From distance the buttons have the same shimmer as MOP but the Guess engraving gives it away. It is good enough for this application as if the observer is close enough to notice the difference the contents should provide enough distraction.

B
 

tiger02

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Did the engraving give it away because it said Guess, or just because it existed? I guess the question is, can MOP buttons bear engraving.

Tom
 

johnnynorman3

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Of course they can bear engraving -- my Jantzen shirts have "Jantzen tailor" on the bottom button, as does Banana Republic premium shirts. I don't think the engraving can give it away. It really is the rainbow effect. Great plastic buttons can have some sort of "shimmer," but when holding it up to light and looking at it from an angle (as one would a diamond), you don't see the rainbow.
 

Shirtmaven

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I have seen pearl dust blended with plastic for a nice look and shine. They still feel like plastic. As I have said before, there are only a few things that feel better then dipping your hand into a box of pearl buttons. I could almost charge for the experience. Carl www.cego.com
 

ernest

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What is the difference between MOTHER OF PEARL and SHELL?
 

imageWIS

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(kabert @ Jan. 21 2005,04:16) Is it possible to make fake MOP? That is, plastic buttons that have the shimmering rainbow of colors that real MOP has? I actually thought this recently when looking at a DKNY shirt -- a brand I usually avoid -- but this one had great fabric and actually seemed to have MOP buttons (it was on sale from $129.95, FWIW).
I saw really good fakes this week as I glanced down on my Guess boxers. From distance the buttons have the same shimmer as MOP but the Guess engraving gives it away. It is good enough for this application as if the observer is close enough to notice the difference the contents should provide enough distraction. B
I really like that shirt you are wearing in your avatar picture; may I enquire as to who made it? And is it a cutaway? Jon.
 

BjornH

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I really like that shirt you are wearing in your avatar picture; may I enquire as to who made it? And is it a cutaway? Jon.
It's a Jatnzen shirt. It's the same fabric as in Nick M's second shirt on the first page of this thread. It has a sharkfin collar as pictured in the Joseph model on Jantzen's 'Latest shirt styles' page. It's my favorite casual shirt. Slim fitting, looks good w/o a tie and has gone through nearly 100 washes. I had to refasten a few buttons on it last week but it's still going strong. B Addition re buttons. MOP is from Oyster shells (hence the MOP name), trocas and others come from other shells. There is a (fuzzy) picture on the Jantzen site that shows the shells.
 

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