Girls Gotta Have Pearls!

Before Mikimoto in the early 1900's perfected the process of culturing pearls, natural pearls were so rare and expensive that only the nobility and the very wealthy could afford to wear them.  According to Victoria Finlay, in her book "Jewels, A Secret History", Julius Caesar, who was obsessed with pearls, might have invaded the British Isles in 55 B.BC. to guarantee a constant supply of his favorite jewel.  Roman historian Suetonius recorded that General Vitellius financed an entire military campaign by selling just one of his mother's pearls (who he later was said to have starved to fulfill a prophecy).  Richard Burton paid $37,000 for a perfectly shaped teardrop pearl, La Peregrina, to give to his wife, Elizabeth Taylor.  Once worn by Mary Tudor 500 years earlier, La Peregrina had been reset with pearls, diamonds and rubies by Elizabeth Taylor and was auctioned off in 2011 for $11,000,000.

Freshwater pearls and red coral Tibetan style earrings by Simona of adora_by_simona

Even though good quality cultured pearls can be bought fairly inexpensively these days, pearls still hang onto their mystique and exquisite beauty.  Today, they can be found in all sizes, colors and shapes.  And there are shell and glass pearls which are stunning beautiful in their own right.  

Gray glass pearl single wrap bracelet with flower button closure by Tammi of PinkSunsetJewelryDesigns

Thinking about all of this, I decided to curate a collection of pearl creations from the members of the Jewelry Creators Unite in Numbers (JCUiN).  The collection is called "Girls Gotta Have Pearls" - which I think is such an appropriate name!  Below are the rest of the gorgeous creations featured in the collection.  Please browse and visit the artists' studios:

Triple pearl necklace with dark silver cultured pearls and sterling silver by Roxanne of ShanghaiTai

Gold glass pearl and antiqued copper heart chandelier earrings by Cristine of crescent-moon-creations

Gold freshwater pearl and green glass pearl bracelet by Diane of dianesdangles

Teal freshwater pearl and copper earrings by WagonerWireWorks

I hope you enjoyed the pearl jewelry creations from the "Girls Gotta Have Pearls" collection.  If you would like to make my day, please leave a comment (: