About this lot

Description

thirty three pearls, with a central pearl of 13.9m graduating to 12mm, of natural colour in delicate shades including grey, pistachio, mushroom and aubergine and of excellent lustre, strung knotted on silk to a white metal stylised shepherd's crook shaped clasp pavé set with round brilliant cut diamonds, estimated total approximate weight of 0.40ct, unmarked tested as 18ct gold, overall length 48cm, weight 96.5g

Footnote: Parented by the rare black-lipped oyster, Pinctada Margaritifera, Tahitian pearls were originally produced in Tahiti, French Polynesia, although now they also originate from the Marshall and Cook Islands, the Solomon Islands and Fiji. Even before pearl cultivation was discovered, Tahitian Pearls had gained a reputation for value and rarity. Over 15,000 shells would be opened before finding a single natural pearl. A unique aspect of this oyster is the natural dark colours of its pearls. Most 'black' Tahitian Pearls are not completely black, but instead range from silver or charcoal, to midnight black, pewter, and even a pale silvery-grey. These pearls can have overtones of green, blue, violet, silver-rose and copper. Typically, all of these pearls come with some degree of a green hue and generally range in size from 8-14 millimetres.

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