Hi Norman,
 
Hey, you've provided a little drama for the list!  Glad to hear things worked
out for you.  I looked at the image, and I'd say the inlay is abalone, my
guess from the color: Haliotis iris.  That hue of blue is very distinctive to
that species (from New Zealand).  Haliotis fulgens (West coast of N.A. from
central Calif. - Mexico) also exhibits blues, but most specimens I've seen
also have a definate shade of green mixed in.
 
Good Luck with your auction!
 
Ken Zentzis