Wampum was worn as ornament and used as currency in the 17th and 18th centuries. The value of wampum was, and still is, mostly in the work that goes into shaping and drilling the beads.
Most quahogs have some purple in their shells.
A lot of the quahogs have no purple at all. We make our wampum beads about twice as long and twice as thick as 17th century wampum because today's jewelry designs need a bold color statement and because we want to carry on the tradition of wampum, not to make exact historic replicas. Things to See Along the Wampum Trail History and Virtues of Wampum About the Quahog Earrings with Wampum Necklaces with Wampum Rise and Fall of Wampum Wampum Jewelry FAQ Quahog Chili and Ma Tucker's Chowder Individual Beads of Wampum Beads are priced according to color. If you want matched sets of beads, please let us know and we will provide the best match possible at no additional cost. Our four grades of wampum.