Pearls

The Beatles' Piano and Jackie O's Jewels at Auction

Filed under: Jewelry, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping

A Challen upright piano from London's famed Abbey Road studios used by The Beatles to record some of their best-known tracks and items of Jackie Kennedy Onassis's jewelry are among the starring attractions at Bonhams' Pioneers of Popular Culture sale on August 15th at the UK's inaugural Goodwood Vintage Festival celebrating five decades of British Cool. The piano, which features on several Beatles songs including Paperback Writer and Tomorrow Never Knows was located in Studio Three at Abbey Road until it the 1980s, and it was also used by Pink Floyd on a number of recordings including the Wish You Were Here and Dark Side of the Moon albums.The pre-sale estimate for the piano is £100,000–£150,000. Among the items of Jackie's jewelry on offer is a three-strand simulated pearl necklace which she wore during the early 1960s, estimated at £25,000–£35,000.

Tags: Bonhams, celebrity, Goodwood Vintage Festival, Jackie Kennedy, jewelry, London, music, pearls, piano, Pink Floyd, pop culture, The Beatles, UK

For Valentine's Day Tie Your Love Up In Pearls

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Some people have very romantic ideas about Valentine's Day. Notions that involve flowers, chocolates, a dinner at a fancy restaurant and love poems while others wishes are of a more carnal nature.

There has often been a correlation between the stores that sell intimate products and the seedier neighborhoods of any given town. Kiki de Montparnasse has always made sure that sexy and sensual does not have to mean low end and trashy. The flagship stores are located in New York's SoHo on Greene Street and in Los Angeles on Melrose Avenue and feature beautiful lingerie, jewelry and other objects of desire. The Las Vegas store located at Crystals in the MGM CityCenter is slightly more steamy, as befits sin city, with a Couples Dressing Room and Portrait Booth so customers can turn elegant shopping into foreplay. The company also features a well designed web-site which sells their products.

If you'd like to have a naughty Valentine's Day but still want to do it in luxury and style there are several products from Kiki de Montparnasse that might pique your interest. One is the Pearl Restraints, ten feet of strung pearls handmade by the craftsmen of E.R. Butler & Co. Each strand is finished with metal signature loops, can be worn as a necklace or full body jewelry, or just pull the pearls through the metal loops to create very fancy restraint cuffs. This item is a Kiki exclusive and sells for $2,400. They also offer regulation handcuffs covered in 24k gold with the key on a separate gold chain for $350.

If you'd like to invest in something a little tamer, they carry a large selection of body oils, scented candles and pretty lingerie including panties with a satin heart on the rear.

Gallery: Kiki de Montparnasse For Valentine's Day

Tags: handcuffs, kiki de montparnasse, KikiDeMontparnasse, Pearl, pearls, romance, sensual, soho, valentines day, ValentinesDay

How to Care for Pearls

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Fine cultured pearls should last for many years, even generations---but only if they are properly cared for.

Cultured pearls should be kept free of perfumes, cosmetics, perspiration and dirt, advises Tiffany & Co. Acid and akali substances can be harmful to pearls, including chemicals found in perfumes, skincare products, hair products and even perspiration due to the salt content. On the other hand, the body's natural oils (apart from heavy perspiration) are actually beneficial for pearls and keeps them from drying out. The issues are the same for colored pearls. A cultured South Sea, Tahitian and golden pearl necklace with a diamond clasp by Tiffany & Co. is seen above.

Tiffany & Co. advises pearl owners to follow the old adage "pearls should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off". Avoid getting your pearls wet and don't wear them when bathing.

If your pearls are soiled, clean them by gently wiping the pearls with a slightly damp cloth. Do not use a chemical-based cleaner on them, as they can become damaged.

Do not store your pearls with other pieces of jewelry, as they can be easily scratched. Separate the pearls from other items by keeping them in a soft bag or wrap them in a cloth before storing them.

Tiffany & Co. cultured pearls are strung on pure silk with knots between each cultured pearl. Over time, the silk will stretch, weaken and become soiled. If you wear your cultured pearls regularly, Tiffany's advises having the pearls professionally cleaned and restrung annually. This will prevent the strand from breaking.

Tags: accessories-pedia, luxist-awards, main-pedia, pearls, Tiffany Co., TiffanyCo.

Mikimoto Ups The Donation On Everything Is Possible With Hope Collection

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Charity

Each year Mikimoto does a series of jewelry pieces for breast cancer. This year Mikimoto has stepped up their actions, promising to donate 50 percent of all sales from the Everything is Possible with Hope collection to the Young Survival Coalition. The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is an international, non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to addressing the unique needs of young women affected by breast cancer. The piece shown above, features 8mm pink freshwater cultured pearls and a clasp with .20 ct of diamonds in a 19-inch, 18K white gold chain. It sells for $2,200.

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Tags: breast cancer, BreastCancer, charity navigator, everything is possible with hope, EverythingIsPossibleWithHope, livi, mikimoto, pearls, pink pearls, PinkPearls, young survival coalition, YoungSurvivalCoalition

Le Vian Chocolate Diamonds and Pearls

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Diamonds, chocolate, pearls ... so good, together or apart. In this case, however, chocolate refers to the color, not the ingredients. Jared now offers LeVian Chocolatier Natural Color Chocolate Diamonds, including rings, earrings, necklaces/pendants, one bracelet, and two watches. Jared also has Le Vian's chocolate cultured pearls. I've never seen this color in diamonds or in pearls, and I like it, but I'm partial to brown. Prices for the diamonds range from $780 - $6,000, and for the pearls, from $400 - $1,700. See much more from Le Vian on its own site, and see the gallery for a few quirky pieces.

Gallery: Le Vian Chocolate Diamonds and Pearls

Chocolate Cultured South Sea Pearls Necklace, $900

14K White Gold 1 1/8 Carat t.w. Diamond Ring, $999

3 1/3 Carat t.w. White & Chocolate Diamonds Necklace, $3,800

Cultured South Sea Chocolate Pearl & Diamond Ring, $1,000

14K White Gold 1 1/3 Carat t.w. Diamond Earrings, $1,450

Tags: chocolate, diamonds, Jared, jewelry, pearls

Big Changes For Japan's Pearl Industry

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Japan has dominated the pearl market for years but according to a report from Reuters, the pearl empire is facing a crisis. The cultured pearl empire created by Kokichi Mikimoto has had a run of over one hundred years but now the decrease in jewelry sales and the rise of the pearl industry in China is changing things. The Reuters report says that domestic production hit a high of 88.5 billion yen ($900 million) in 1990 but last year's number was one fifth of that. Growers who have been cultivating pearls for years are considering getting out of the industry. Pearl farms are closing down as the market shifts.

In China, growers have had great success in cultivating pearls that can be as big and round as the prized Japanese akoya pearls. China has 50 times Japan's pearl production capacity and can flood the market with cheaper pearls. Japan is also facing competition from South Sea and Tahitian pearls. Japan now imports more than double the amount of pearls it exports.

Another problem may also be that the market for pearls just isn't there anymore. Pearls are considered traditional and are often out of favor with young people. Pearls were once a classic gift for life transitions like graduations and weddings but that is not as common anymore. Tiffany & Co.announced the closing of their their pearl-only Irdidesse stores in March of this year. Also while the diamond industry has made huge promotional efforts to educate consumers, most people don't know why they should choose one type of pearl over another. The company that started it all, Mikimoto, has learned to roll with the times selling pearls from a variety of places and combining pearls with diamonds to create a variety of jewelry styles.

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Tags: japan, pearls

The Lizabeta Earrings From EV Jewelry

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Here's a little eyecandy for your Saturday, the newest earrings from EV Jewelry Designs. The Lizabeta earrings are handcrafted in 18-karat white gold and have more than six carats of hand-set diamonds set to highlight four South Sea pearls. The pearls at the top of each earring feature a bezel-set diamond. The earrings also have screw back posts and backings for added security. They sell for $15,000.

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Tags: couture jewelry, CoutureJewelry, diamonds, earrings, jewelry, pearls

Tiffany & Co. To Close Pearls-Only Store Iridesse

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Diamond prices are falling but it looks like the stones may still be more popular than pearls. Tiffany & Co.is in the process of closing Iridesse, its spin-off brand of stores focusing exclusively on pearls. The stores launched in 2004 and there are currently 16 Irdiesse stores open. Tiffany spokeswoman Linda Buckley is quoted by JCK as saying that the store closings will occur as they make arrangements with landlords and sell off inventory but that the move should happen within the next few months. Buckley also says that Tiffany believes in the concept of pearls-only stores but that the current economy couldn't support the separate business. The news come just as Michelle Obama's official White House portrait is revealed. The First Lady shows off toned bare arms and a double strand of pearls around her neck.

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Tags: iridesse, pearls, tiffany

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Win a Strand of Mikimoto Akoya Pearls

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Many years ago my mother went to Japan, and one of the things she brought back was a string of pearls from Mikimoto. I've always associated pearls with Mikimoto, and I'm sure many others do as well -- the company originated the cultured pearl and has been in business since 1893. Thanks to Mikimoto, there's a bright spot in this challenging holiday season: The company is sponsoring a contest whereby one random winner will receive a strand of Mikimoto Akoya Pearls estimated at $2,500. No purchase necessary, and contest ends March 31, 2009. Rules are here.

Tags: contest, contests, Mikimoto, Mikimoto pearls, MikimotoPearls, pearl, pearls, sweepstakes

The Goddess Necklace

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Last year Mikimoto unveiled a million-dollar necklace. This year's one-of-a-kind pearl creation is called The Goddess,. The Goddess is 18" long and is comprised of 25 perfectly matched, perfectly round South Sea White cultured pearls ranging in size from 17.0 mm to 19.6 mm. The pearls have a unique luster, a faint silvery pink orient with a mirror-like reflection which is rare on pearls of this size, Mikimoto says it took over a decade to assemble this necklace. The custom-designed diamond clasp totals almost 7 carats with pear-shaped diamonds radiating from a marquise-cut center stone, all mounted in platinum. The Goddess necklace is priced at $1,600,000 and it is available at the Mikimoto flagship boutique at 730 Fifth Avenue, New York.

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Tags: mikimoto, necklace, pearl necklace, PearlNecklace, pearls

World Pearl Forum Planned For Dubai

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Dubai is making a big move into developing the pearl industry. The Dubai Pearl Exchange, a subsidiary of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), has announced that it will host the first-ever World Pearl Forum to bring together the global pearl industry, revitalize the global pearl trade, and build on Dubai's historic status as the pearl center of the Gulf. The event will be held at the Atlantis hotel, Palm Jumeirah from 17-18 February, 2009. More than 200 leading pearl specialists from around the world will take part in the event. Gaiti Rabbani, Executive Director, Coloured Stones and Pearls, DMCC, shown at right above with Farid Mohammed Ahmed and Ahmed Bin Sulayem, says that the purpose of the event is to help advance pearls as gems and strategize on how to "better represent the luxury, value, and economic potential of the pearl itself."

[via Diamonds.net]

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Tags: dubai, pearls

Mysterious Cartier Pearls Linked to Catherine the Great

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Auctions

A mysterious pearl necklace that may have once belonged to Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, will be auctioned off by Bonhams in New York in December. Automotive billionaire Horace Elgin Dodge purchased the necklace from Cartier in Paris in 1920 for his wife Anna Thomson Dodge at the astonishing price of $825,000 - about $8 million in today's dollars.

The original Cartier invoice states that the "five row pearl necklace, consisting of 389 pearls weighing 4305 grains" was accompanied by an "enamel clasp representing Catherine, Empress of Russia" and "two diamond alternate clasps." Several newspaper accounts from the '20s suggested that the pearls did indeed once belong to Catherine; Anna Thomson Dodge's heirs maintain that Horace bought the pearls from Cartier on that basis.

Now reduced to three strands comprised of 224 pearls and two Cartier diamond clasps, the necklace (above) is estimated at $500,000- $700,000 - a hefty sum, to be sure, but far less than Horace originally paid. The reason for the depreciation has less to do with the reduction in strands than with changing fashion and an evolving jewelry marketplace.

In 1920, before the advent of cultured pearls, they were exceedingly rare and valuable, much more so than diamonds. Nowadays pearls have become more commonplace while diamonds are more precious, though a true connoisseur recognizes the value of the Dodge necklace, which is made of all natural pearls.

Gallery: The Dodge Pearls

Tags: Anna Thomson Dodge, AnnaThomsonDodge, Cartier, Catherine the Great, CatherineTheGreat, Dodge, Horace Dodge, HoraceDodge, Pearls, Russia

JeTalia Jewelry

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Jewelry designer Sarena Traver is more than just a maker of fine jewelry, she's also a race car driver. Traver's company, JeTalia has four collections, Cage, Synchro, Apex, and T2. Traver's father was in the gem business and she grew up as his apprentice.

Racing informs her designs in a subtle way, she likes to incorporate movement into the designs. She works primarily in gold, diamonds, and pearls with prices ranging from $1,000 to $18,000. My favorite are her Cage pieces which feature pearls inside gold scroll cages. The ring shown at right sells for $2250.

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Tags: jetalia, necklaces, pearls, rings

Sarah Jessica Parker Singlehandedly Bringing Back Pearls?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Celebrity Shopping

Sarah Jessica Parker has been wearing a lot of pearls lately. In the Sex and the City movie, her character Carrie Bradshaw is seen wearing opera-length pearls in many different scenes. The 32-inch strand of 8.5-millimeter akoya cultured pearls is showcased in a scene is which she climbs into bed with "Mr. Big" wearing the pearls with undies and a tank top. The necklace is from Mikimoto and sells for $11,900. Sarah Jessica Parker has also been sporting pearls in her real life showing up at several press events this season in both white and black pearl necklaces in various lengths.

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Tags: carrie bradshaw, mikimoto, pearls, sarah jessica parker, SarahJessicaParker, sex and the city

Mikimoto Pearls for Mother's Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Charity

You can buy your mother Mikimoto pearls and help fund breast cancer support this Mother's Day. Mikimoto donates 20% of proceeds from Everything is Possible With Hope, a special collection inspired by the pink ribbon, to the Young Survival Coalition. The YSC is a non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to young women, pushing for an effective breast cancer screening tool for women under 40 and research and support for this younger population of breast cancer survivors.

Gallery: Mikimoto Mother's Day