Many years ago, I did a course on valuating and pricing of pearls by The Academy of Valuers. I have always had a fascination with pearls the rich lustre on them also the colours available from the lightest shades of white, pink and champagne through to black Tahitian pearls which are a favourite of mine. The lustre reflected in Tahitian pearls smooth surface ranges from peacock green, petrol blue, deep purple or a rich pink. Tahitian pearls, as the name suggests are found in both Tahiti and the French Polynesian Islands where they are available in a variety of sizes.
Pearls have been used in jewellery and the adornment of clothes since 2300 BC where Chinese royalty would be gifted pearls as they were seen as the ultimate status symbol. Evidence that pearls remained popular through out the centuries is found when a fragment of pearl was discovered in the sarcophagus of a Persian Princess from 420 BC which is currently on show in the Louvre, Paris.
Closer to home Elizabeth I was also a keen wearer of both pearl jewellery and utilised pearls in the adornment of her clothes again ensuring her status was known to all. The significance of pearls is further underlined with famous rumour that surrounds Mr Pierre Cartier who in 1917 swapped a strand of pearls for a mansion on Fifth Avenue, New York.
Pearls are the birthstone of anyone born in June (along with Moonstone).
