An ode to pearls

Oh pearls, why are you so expensive
why so hard to find
what has made you so enduring
what makes you so rare and elusive
(when now you are being cultured by the millions)
Oh pearls... ah screw it


CoCo Chanel said that "every woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls." While I may not be a big fan of Chanel the brand (except the perfume), I have to say I agree with that statement at least. It is an odd combination to be a jeans and t-shirt girl who loves jewelry. Pearls appeal to both sides of my personality. They go with pretty much anything. They can be insanely expensive or (thanks to the invention of cultured pearls) they can be cheap and affordable. To the lavish and very expensive Tahitian pearls (be still my beating heart).

Ombre opera length pearl necklace from Komoka Pearls 

Jackie Kennedy's Three Strand necklace

Perhaps it is the fact that pearls have such a fascinating history When natural pearls were all that was available they were rare and more valuable than diamonds. The original Tiffany Store on 5th Avenue New York City was, reportedly, purchased with a double strand of natural pearls. Going even further back Queen Elizabeth the first was known for her love of pearls. Her sister, Mary Tudor, wore La Peregrina. An almost perfect drop shaped pearl of enormous size. The pearl was last seen in the collection of the famous Elizabeth Taylor.

From the fabricated glass pearls made by Swarovski (not my favorite) to the stunning pieces of natural or semi-natural Tahitian or South Sea pearls they will always hold an allure for us. The image of pearls as the ultimate form of class and elegance gracing the necks of everyone from the Tudors to Elizabeth Taylor to Jackie Kennedy will always stand. And they will continue to be that image. Even if the image does change.