“Assumptions are made and most assumptions are wrong.” – Albert Einstein Most gems come from the bowels of the earth; pearls come from the bowels of oysters (and other mollusks). Long known as the ‘queen of gems’, a natural pearl necklace was seen as a treasure of nearly incomparable value. History is laden with stories showcasing their importance across India, China, Egypt, and Rome, dating back over 5,000 years. Until the advent of their cultured variety, pearls were so expensive that only nobility and the very wealthy could afford them. So rare were pearls that in the year 69 A.D., the Roman emperor Vitellius financed an entire military campaign by selling
Behind the Pearly Gates
Behind the Pearly Gates
Behind the Pearly Gates
“Assumptions are made and most assumptions are wrong.” – Albert Einstein Most gems come from the bowels of the earth; pearls come from the bowels of oysters (and other mollusks). Long known as the ‘queen of gems’, a natural pearl necklace was seen as a treasure of nearly incomparable value. History is laden with stories showcasing their importance across India, China, Egypt, and Rome, dating back over 5,000 years. Until the advent of their cultured variety, pearls were so expensive that only nobility and the very wealthy could afford them. So rare were pearls that in the year 69 A.D., the Roman emperor Vitellius financed an entire military campaign by selling