Exactly like in oysters, the process needs to build up on an initial structure. Many materials can be used for that purpose, from metal to glass or ABS. A few specific material won't work, like Polyethylène or wood.

Nacre has very specific mechanical properties. It is a 95% ceramic based composite (ceramics haver the tendency to be fragile), but the inner structure of the material makes it very resistant to fracture (non fragile). This could open up interesting specific uses.