Henry Philip Hope's Gem Collection
The Hope Pearl AND the Hope Diamond. Quite a major gem collection.
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Queen Elizabeth's Favorite Vladimir Tiara. It seemed appropriate.
The story begins with the Romanov Duchess Vladimir, who was the last Romanov to leave Russia during the Revolution.
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Anne Boleyn's Bold "B" Necklace
Anne Boleyn was one of the boldest of Henry VIII's wives. This is one of the original Statement Necklaces. What happened to it?
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Who Will Wear This Crown?
This crown was designed by the team at Jewelmer and has some of the most stunning and valuable Golden South Sea Pearls. Why would the Golden South Sea Pearl be the "crowning" glory of this crown?
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Maki-e Pearls
Maki-e pearls are Tahitian pearls that have an overlay painting of 24K gold with abalone shell inlay. This style is called Maki-e from the Japanese decorating Edo period.
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Coco Chanel
Since we are talking about style this week, I will leave you with a thoughtful quote from the most stylish icon of the 20th and 21st century, Coco Chanel.
"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn."
photo courtesy of Harpers Bazaar
Pearl Pioneers- Nicholas Paspaley (Picture of Nick and his sister in 1932)
It all started out as a wonderful wild adventure for 19 year old Nick Paspaley in the 1930s.
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Tokki Pearls
Tokki is a Japanese term to describe a protrusion or bump. Occasionally, oysters will produce a pearl with curious shapes. These are the result of an accident during growth. Oysters definitely have a mind of their own.
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Golden South Sea Pearls
Golden South Sea Pearls are some of the most valuable pearls cultured today. The most beautiful and most valuable are the deep golden colored pearls grown in the gold lipped variety of the Pinctada maxima South Sea oyster.
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Obsessed with Pearls
I am obsessed with Pearls. They are, of course, always appropriate, a statement made by Jackie Kennedy, but even more than that, they are organic. They have been birthed by a living being. They are such a treasure to have in your presence. Pearls are farmed, not mined. Saltwater pearls are farmed on atolls in...
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