DOUBLE STRAND ROUND 5.5MM CULTURED PEARL NECKLACE
Welcome to my little corner of the jewellery world, my dear friend. I hope you like what you find here, because most of my jewellery is carefully curated by me, rather than simply being thrown at a website and told to get on with it. And today, we are talking about Pearls. Not plastic beads pretending to have a social life. Not something that looks Pearl-ish vaguely from six feet away. These are cultured freshwater Pearls, with a beautiful white colour, approximately 5.5mm in size and a lovely good lustre that gives them that soft, luminous glow Pearls have been making humans completely irrational about for thousands of years. This is a wonderfully versatile freshwater Pearl necklace, available in approximately 16–24 inches in length. Please note that the stated length includes the clasp, so do read the measurements carefully before ordering. Pearl necklaces are rather particular about where they sit on the neckline, and nobody wants to discover that their idea of a classic Pearl necklace and their measuring tape have had a fundamental disagreement. The Pearls are individually hand-knotted and strung to order, giving the necklace that lovely traditional feel associated with classic Pearl jewellery. There is something wonderfully old-fashioned about a double strand of Pearls, but in the best possible way. They have survived empires, revolutions, questionable fashion trends, shoulder pads and the entire concept of low-rise jeans. Frankly, I think they've earned their place. And the beauty of a classic white freshwater Pearl necklace is that it doesn't require a special occasion. Yes, of course, you can wear it to a wedding, anniversary, formal event or glamorous dinner where somebody has remembered to iron the tablecloth. But you can just as easily wear it with a simple jumper, a white shirt or jeans and a nice top. Pearls have that rather brilliant ability to make you look polished even when the rest of your life is being held together by caffeine and increasingly optimistic lists. A Little Pearl History – Because Jewellery Should Come With Stories Pearls have fascinated people for thousands of years. The Persian Gulf was historically one of the world's major sources of natural Pearls, while evidence of mother-of-Pearl use in ancient Egypt dates back thousands of years. One of the most enduring stories from antiquity is the tale of Cleopatra dissolving a Pearl in wine to demonstrate the extravagance of her hospitality to Mark Antony. Whether Cleopatra actually did this exactly as the story tells us is another matter, but I rather admire the commitment to making dinner unnecessarily dramatic. The Pearl industry changed dramatically in the early twentieth century when methods of culturing Pearls were developed. Rather than relying entirely on the extraordinarily rare chance of a natural Pearl forming inside a wild mollusc, Pearl farmers could introduce material that encourages the mollusc to create nacre around it, allowing Pearls to be cultivated. And this is an important distinction: cultured Pearls are genuine Pearls, not imitation or synthetic gemstones. They are formed by living molluscs through the natural process of depositing nacre, with human assistance initiating the process. Most Pearls used in jewellery today are cultured, including freshwater Pearls. Freshwater Pearls are grown in freshwater mussels rather than the saltwater oysters associated with varieties such as Akoya Pearls. So although "freshwater" and "cultured" describe different things — one refers to the environment and the other to how the Pearl is produced — they very happily belong together in the same description. Product Details Jewellery Type: Pearl Necklace Pearl Type: Cultured Freshwater Pearl Pearl Colour: White Pearl Size: Approximately 5.5mm Lustre: Good Length: Approximately 16–24" Length Measurement: Includes the clasp Construction: Hand-knotted and strung to order Style: Classic Freshwater Pearl Necklace Please read the measurements carefully before placing your order, particularly if you have a specific neckline or length in mind. Jewellery Care – Because Pearls Are Gorgeous, But Slightly High Maintenance Pearls are organic gemstones and deserve rather more delicate treatment than your average piece of Gold or Silver jewellery. I recommend putting your Pearl necklace on after applying perfume, hairspray, creams and cosmetics, rather than allowing it to marinate in the entire contents of your bathroom cabinet. Please remove your Pearl necklace before showering, bathing, swimming, exercising or sleeping, and keep it away from household cleaning products, chlorine and other chemicals. Pearls should never be cleaned with abrasive jewellery cleaners, ultrasonic cleaners or anything remotely resembling a power washer. A soft, slightly damp cloth is all you generally need to gently wipe them after wearing. When you're not wearing your necklace, store it somewhere soft and dry, preferably away from harder gemstones and other jewellery that could scratch the Pearl surfaces. Avoid storing Pearls in an excessively dry environment for prolonged periods, and don't leave them baking on a sunny windowsill while you're out having a lovely time. And because these necklaces are hand-knotted and strung to order, a little care really does go a long way towards keeping your Pearl necklace looking beautiful for years to come. Shipping: The Glamorous World of Parcel Patience Yes, darlings, I dispatch as soon as my little hands can package your treasure — but remember, I'm a boutique, not Bezos. If I have your piece to hand, it will be dispatched as soon as possible, but these particular Pearl necklaces are hand-knotted and strung to order, so please allow me 10–14 days for me to get your necklace beautifully made and ready to leave. Think of it as foreplay for the soul. International Shipping: Please allow anywhere from 14 to 30 working days, depending on customs, the mood of your postal service and whether Mercury is in retrograde. Customs Policy For buyers outside the UK, import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your local customs authority to determine any additional costs before purchasing if you are outside the UK. These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight or postal company, or when you collect your parcel. If you are in the USA, please drop me a message before ordering. Order cancellations or refunds will not be accepted due to unpaid customs duties or charges that are the buyer's responsibility. Please Note – Made Especially for You Because each Pearl necklace is handmade to order, these necklaces are non-returnable. Please make sure you have checked the Pearl size, necklace length and clasp-inclusive measurement carefully before ordering. If you aren't sure which length would work best for you, please message me before ordering. I'm always happy to help you choose. Happy shopping, my lovelies. May your jewellery collection contain many Pearls and your life contain considerably fewer situations requiring you to attend something called a "smart casual networking breakfast".