Click on this link and listen to the Big Band sound of Glenn Miller playing “String of Pearls”, while you read.
Pearls are an interesting gem because they come from living creatures. Most people are familiar with pearls found in oysters. Oysters produce only one pearl per shell and these oysters are harvested by divers. Oysters are bred for this purpose, which can take almost three years and then implanted with a seed that takes up to three years or more to produce. Pearls from oysters go through a grading/sorting/ cleaning/polishing process before being placed on the market.
China first discovered pearls in 2200 B.C. and began the culturing of pearls in 1082 A.D. China is the leading producer of pearls in the world. This is due to many natural conditions that cause pearls to thrive. The abundance of water, the water temperature and lack of water pollution add much to breeding conditions. In fact, many people actually raise and harvest pearls in their own backyards. This type of backyard production uses “clusters” which can hold up to eleven pearls rather than the single oyster. Knowing that it takes seven years to achieve a harvest, rather equates this to growing and selling “Christmas” trees in our part of the world. For a lot more information about pearls, please visit the site below.
One of my friends lives in Shanghai, China eight months of the year. On her winter visit, Dee brought cases of pearls to sell at an incredible discount. If you are not familiar with pearls and think pearls are for older ladies like Barbara Bush, get ready to have a wake-up call. My motto is that you can never have too many pearls, diamonds or SHOES! (think Zappos.com) Unlike diamonds, pearls are warm. They feel soothing against your skin with a glow that no other gem can offer.
My first strand of pearls was a necklace when I was four years old. I am wearing my pearls, a sassy little dress and patent leather shoes while admiring Sister, six months old, in the photo. Mother upgraded me to a stunning necklace when I graduated from high school. This necklace was combined with one of Mother’s to make a double strand and given a sapphire clasp about four years ago.
I have always thought that those long strands worn by ladies in the movies of the 30’s & 40’s were ever so sexy. Being short, I never thought I could “do” this look but after trying a lovely, 54 inch strand at Dee’s pearl show, it was too intriguing to pass up. The long strands came in several shades but white was my first choice. First item in the cart.
Next, I saw these round, flat pearls, almost like a puddle. It just so happened that I was wearing earrings like this necklace. My earrings could be called “blush” in color and had been found at the Biltmore Village Arts’ event years ago. Dee was so surprised that the necklace exactly matched my earrings and told me that this puddle look was really called “coin” pearls. Second item in the cart.
Then I spied the strangest looking lumpy beads ranging in color from white to deep bronze. The common name for these beads is “potato pearls”. The actual name is baroque pearls. These lumpy, bumpy pearls were fascinating, so I put them around my neck. In seconds, they acclimated to my skin warming my neck and radiating heat. Normally, I would not look at big stones for my small neck but these looked terrific. Third item in the cart!
Dee must have known that her friends would want more than just pearls from the Orient so she brought exquisite pashminas. It isn’t like I don’t have a drawer full of pashminas but I wear them year ‘round. So, fourth item in the cart! Coin pearls are on the pashmina.
Hmmm. At this point, it was time to start calculating my expenses. Oh, no doubt I could have found a lot more treasures but you have to control yourself. Right?? Hopefully, you have enjoyed the photos, information and the general chatter about Dee’s pearls. Please visit her website and use my code (for a discount!) to order these beauties. Dee will only be in the States until the end of December but her site is always opened for business.
code: sissyZ
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