Conch Shells I have been fascinated with conch shells since I was very young. I got started when I first read the Lord of the Flies. In that book, the conch shell was a symbol of authority. When one of the kids found it, he suddenly had a way to summon the others. It was interesting how something so primitive – an empty shell you could blow into to make a loud noise – could have such importance, but it was a central part of the book. I liked the idea of a beautiful, natural, queen conch shell serving as a sort of primitive telegraph system. It appealed to my imagination somehow. Of course, the fact that conch sea shells are so beautiful helped a lot. Conch shells are sort of the epitome of large, gorgeous seashells. As a matter of fact, in tropical islands around the world where they wash up, natives will gather them and sell them to tourists for huge amounts of money. They are like natural works of art, and people who aren't familiar with conch shells are willing to pay through the nose for them. When they are drilled to make blowing easier, they fetch an even higher price. As with anything else, not all conch shells are created equal. As a matter of fact, there is a huge variety among them. Only a small minority of conchs shells are actually large, pink, and perfect like the ones you see in movies. Some of them have darker colors or minor imperfections. Others are smaller in size, or irregular in shape. And of course, many conch shells are chipped or cracked or else worn down by the sea. Nonetheless, it is pretty easy to find seashells in good shape if you know where to look. The availability of conch shells depends a lot on where you live. If you live near somewhere where they wash up on the shore, you can easily get one whenever you want. If you live inland or far from any tropical seas, it is a little bit more difficult. In many parts of the world they're sort of a specialty item, rarely to be found unless you are willing to pay exorbitant rates. Fortunately, the Internet has made the Situation much better. Nowadays, you can easily order conchs online for less than you would pay at a specialty shop. Although you usually aren't guaranteed that the conch you buy looks exactly like the one you see online, usually they are pretty close. Summary Conch shells are much like snowflakes. No two are the same. These large shells are very beautiful and elegant. Most have imperfections due to being tossed around the ocean floor. Not all have the characterisitc pink color as seen in movies. Pick a shell that calls to you personally for your decorating style or vacation memento. Related Articles Nautical Lamps Decorative Glass Bottles Hurricane Lamps Nautical Items Related Sites