| Pearl jewelry catches attention because of its | | | | production. Finely-cultured pearls are rare, and they |
| uncomplicated and serene elegance. It may seem like | | | | fetch an exorbitant price. |
| an oxymoron, but sometimes the simplest things are | | | | The mysterious glamour of natural South Sea pearls |
| the ones that are the most attractive. A look at a | | | | has prompted new combinations among necklaces of |
| simple pearl earring, a representative example of pearl | | | | various colors and sizes. There is a growing demand |
| jewelry, is enough to dispel all doubt. | | | | for these pearls, as well as an increasing need to |
| In fact, for many kinds of pearl jewelry, the operating | | | | know more about pearls in general. |
| principle is "the simpler the better." At times a single | | | | Remember Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in "My |
| pearl can even say much more than a dozen pearls all | | | | Fair Lady", and as Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at |
| lined up. This is why some consider pearl jewelry to be | | | | Tiffany's"? She wore such simple pearl jewelry, and |
| even more beautiful than diamond, more valuable and | | | | yet they made her face shine. Pearls bring glamour to |
| timeless. | | | | a woman's face, catch the light and trap it in to create |
| Pearls are formed when a foreign object, such as a | | | | a very suffused glow not unlike a halo. Translucence is |
| grain of sand, becomes trapped in an oyster or | | | | also a mystical quality of pearls, evoking mystery and |
| mussel. The grain becomes coated with layers of a | | | | sophistication in the wearer. |
| smooth, crystalline substance known as nacre. Over | | | | Due to its timeless elegance, pearl jewelry never falls |
| time this natural process produces the luminescent | | | | out of fashion. They can be worn with almost anything; |
| gem known as a pearl. Most pearls used in making | | | | after all they serve to accentuate more the healthy |
| pearl jewelry are cultured, meaning oysters are | | | | color of the skin rather than the clothes a person |
| injected with irritants in order to induce nacre | | | | wears. |