Shell Necklace

[paul monfils]

It definitely is not a cat eye, which is an operculum or "door" that closes a turban shell when the animal withdraws inside.  Your shell doesn't appear to be a complete shell, but is probably a piece sawed off a shell.  The opinion offered above by Razgriz is probably right.  This does look like the spire (spiraled end), cut off a Conus marmoreus, commonly called "Marble Cone Shell".  Here is what that shell looks like complete:

<a href="http://www.coneshell.net/images/c_marmoreus0006.jpg" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.coneshell.net/images/c_marmoreus0006.jpg">http://www.coneshell.net/images/c_marmoreus0006.jpg</a><!-- m --></a>

Notice how the end view of the shell, in the center, looks like the shell on your necklace.
.  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2009-12-26 00:18:25 --</span>