Dicro. Glass/abalone alternitive?

[biednick]

Hello,
I love the look of these types of blanks, and want some for a large pen kit, the regency. It has 3 tubes. I have talked with people about paua abalone blanks for this and having seen the cost for blanks for smaller kits with dicro glass, I feel having these made for me will be cost prohibitive. Does anyone know of a less expensive way I could at least attempt to recreate this effect?
Thanks,
Nick Biederman

 

[Russianwolf]

In the pics i post the other day, the one on the upper left was my first try at a faux mother of pearl. Came out great but with a couple bubbles. Lots of color flash in person. I'll be able to make them cheaper since the material is cheaper and less time consuming. Just need tocrush the bubbles.

For dichro, never seen anything that comes close to the real thing. Even some pieces of the real thing, i have three expensive pieces of glass that i dont like the amount of flash, im hoping they change once fired.

 

[DestinTurnings]

I made a princess pen from a blank that I got somewhere called "Abalone". It is PR I think from the way it turned. It's the closest thing I have ever seen to real abalone. The three pics below are all the same pen.