Dominican Republic pearl jewelry 10

Dominican Republic Pearl Diamond Jewelry.

 By Aamir Mannan.

ALL NATURAL BEAUTY

Conch pearls are such rare and unique gems they can be far more expensive than any other natural pearls. Technically speaking, they are not true pearls, as these may be described as 'nacreous encrusted foreign bodies'. Instead, they are calcareous concretions formed inside the animal's flesh in response to tiny holes drilled in the shell by marine worms. Moreover, they are not easy to find; although the ratio in the wild of one pearl in ten thousand shells is widely regarded as true, recent studies suggest it may be as many as one in a thousand. Still very few, specially taking into account that only one out of ten such pearls reaches 'gem status'. This adds to their rarity and high value. Unlike nacreous 

pearls, which have been cultured since the 1920s, a method for culturing conch pearls has been developped very recently by scientists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI).The research team claims be able to produce both nucleated and non-nucleated pearls. Further information should be available soon.

Although the spiral shell of the Queen Conch was used by some pre-Colombian cultures as a ceremonial music instrument, there are no historic records of the use of its pearls in jewelry before the mid 1800s. 

The subtle yet lively touch of pink blush of a pink conch pearl can enhance platinum jewelry like no other gem. Edwardian designers of the late 19th century were quite aware of this, and Art Nouveau jewelers of the early 20th century incorporated them gracefully in their nature-inspired pieces.After World War I, the interest in conch pearls totally decreased and it was not until the 1980s that they regained the attention of designers. In 1987, Elizabeth Taylor endorsed Harry Winston's jewelry by wearing a conch pearl necklace and earring suite.

Following Mikimoto Pearls' launching of a special line of conch pearl jewelry on a yearly basis for a full decade, the Japanese market is the first one with significant consumer awareness of conch pearls.