Highly Lustrous Akoya pearls come from the white Pinctada Fucata oysters of Japan. Akoya pearls are stars in the fashion world right now. In recent years, fashion-forward women have given celebrity status to the beautifully lustrous Akoya pearls in fine jewelry. Why are Akoya pearls creating such a buzz? Akoya oysters, which grow...
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One of the most famous pearls was found off an island in the Americas. It is a fabulously large natural pearl that is the size of a pigeon’s egg. It has had many illustrious owners, among them Elizabeth Taylor, Philip II of Spain, and Mary Tudor of England. I had the extreme pleasure of trying...
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You may not get the opportunity to visit the actual pearl farms as I have been able to do, but there are distinct qualities that you desire in pearls. Much like the 4Cs of buying diamonds, pearls have a similar set of standards. Pearl Quality = Luster, Size, Shape, and Surface. Luster is the commanding...
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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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Aquaprase is a recently discovered gemstone. It is an entirely NEW gem, never seen before. It’s a chalcedony that has never been discovered. It was discovered “somewhere” in Africa and no one knows how much gemstone is there. Aquaprase is a very new gemstone discovery and has a unique story. A couple of years ago...
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Edison Pearls are the newest experiment in the long history of Freshwater Pearl experiments. They are produced on a few rare pearl farms in China. They have only been available for 3-4 years. Edisons may have a unique “ripple” surface but some are beautifully smooth. One of the most incredible properties of Edisons is the...
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Today all pearls with a very few exceptions are cultured pearls. In 1905, Kokichi Mikimoto began experimenting with native Japanese Akoya shells and discovered the beginnings of culturing pearls. His experiments, although there are many different techniques, are the foundation of pearl farming all over the world today. Pearl farms can be in...
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This is my current post to Instagram. It’s fun to be able to see the photos and information if you miss it in your feed, or just don’t “do” Instagram!
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What fun to be connected to my Instagram feed. Lots of color and fun pictures. It’s all about lifestyle, baby.
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I want to share with you some pictures that I took in my fabulously creative cousin’s fantasy garden. She has paintings and sculptures and wild tropical plants that I had a wild time draping my jewelry over.
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With over 41 shows, some that had 1000 vendors in them, I had to keep my sensory input from exploding! There was such an array of the good, the fabulous, and the ugly. I tried to bring back only the fabulous! I had an exciting experience arranging this hank of freshwater pearls into a “wig..."
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