When one thinks of the word ‘luxury’ usually images of astronomically priced goods spring to mind.
Mansions, private jets, gold, …pearls?
History tells us that during Julius Caesar’s reign Roman women had a consuming passion to wear exceptionally fine pearls as earrings. Preferring pear shaped pearls, each pearl could be worth a fortune, with a whole inheritance being worn in each ear causing considerable concern to their husbands’ solvency!
It is recorded that Roman General Vitellius paid for an entire military campaign by the sale of one of his mother’s pearl earrings! We recommend asking your mother before selling any of her jewellery!
I know what you’re thinking…how can our pearl jewellery prices start at £12.50?
Since 55BC cultured pearl farms have been established giving us a selection of cultured pearls to choose from. While these pearls might not cover the cost of paying for an entire military campaign, they are no less beautiful.
On the exterior there is no difference between a natural pearl and a cultured pearl. The difference arises from the fact that a natural pearl is formed accidentally and without any human intervention, while a cultured pearl is started by the introduction of an irritant by man, after which the process is continued solely by the metabolism of the living mollusc.
The word ‘cultured’ merely means that the pearls have been man started but they are nature made.
If you would like to find out more about the different types of pearls available, how they are formed, how to choose the perfect pearl for you and how to preserve your investment, then book a seat at one of our, noted in Country Life as ‘unmissable‘, Pearl Talks happening throughout the year at our Pearl Center.
Pearls of Wisdom 
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