If you can't score them and break them w/your breaker plier, why not leave them as is, and let them hang off the edge that teensy bit.

Slow, I guess I could do that, but would rather not. It would probably be okay to leave the sides hang over a bit. But I have to cut pieces all along the top. They are the kind that the pieces fit together, and at the end, they have to be cut.

Then I'd say you need a tile saw or the ring saw. Cutting small things on the saws aren't the easiest things - I've done it - cut 1/4" pieces of floor tiles - but can be done. Hope someone helps w/a solution for you. Is there a stained glass shop near you that could help?

I have cut thin shell tiles with nail clippers. They were all shell, not shell mounted on something.

I should clarify-Mother of Pearl not hard shell.
Do you have a dremel?

I love this forum. Y'all are great to bounce ideas back and forth with me. I did read about how cutting small things on mesh can be tricky. also saw a couple articles that showed placing the small tile sheet on a larger tile and taping it all over with blue painter's tape, before cutting. home depot has rentals of small saws. full day costs same as buying one, but i can do in half day. i want to try the nail clippers, but my husband just went out of town and took them with him! Tiles are called "natural shell", but have the look of MOP, so nail clippers might work. I want to try it. i do have a dremel. my husband tried that. just would take FOREVER to cut them. and kinda hard to get a good setup. i've got to be careful to minimize waste, because these things were pretty pricey! so, for now, i'm going to measure and when hubby gets back, will try the clippers and he can help me out with the saw. i'm a little bit chicken of ending up with 9 digits! haha

When cutting shells especially mother of pearl, wear a mask. The dust and fumes are dangerous. Happy cutting!

yes, Spiritcat, thank you! I did notice after my husband cut just one teensy tile with the dremel, that masks would be in order. Very fine dust, and it smells nasty!

I want to make a cut only half way through... I'm a jeweler... so I want some thing like a tiny rotary tile saw. Diamond headss in the flex shaft jump. thoughts?