Black Pearls

The black pearl is only created by the giant blacklipped oyster (pinctada margaritifera) in the South Pacific. The private companies who farm these pearls sell to independent dealers and smart retail outfits in Tahiti. The local cooperatives sell their production in Tahiti at twice yearly auctions where between 50,000 and 70,000 black pearls will exchange hands for many millions of dollars. In all the black pearl trade in the South Pacific is worth $150 million US and are exported all over the world.

As with any gemstone the price of a black pearl depends greatly on size and quality. Slightly flawed pearls go for around $100 US and up and some of high quality will reach over $1000 US and so a necklace with decent quality pearls can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

Black and coloured Pearls are now extremely fashionable and can be found in many variations of pearl necklace, pearl pendants, and pearl earrings.

Necklaces

A necklace is a large ring worn around the neck or near the region of the heart. Due to its positioning around the torso, it is believed that the necklace can enhance the wearer’s communicative skills. It is also a store of positive energy that is beneficial for the heart and the lungs. The necklace enjoys the status of being one of the most sought after and prized ornaments through centuries, besides being the first man-made object for wearing round the neck. The necklace has been romanticized to the extent of becoming the classic example of feminine beauty, grace and decadence.

Fundamentally, necklaces functioned as apparel. The pre-historic norm of dressing up the neck and torso was in the form of fibulae (the ancient safety pin), necklaces, brooches, pectorals (breastplates) and belts, etc. The accessorizing of the necklace and its use as an adornment came into fashion only after the Middle Ages. Medieval necklaces or neckbands were practical and rather simple. The 14th, 15th and 16th centuries witnessed the glamorization of the neckwear as they gradually changed into sophisticated and intricately designed chains and collars to suit the needs and styles of different people.