Pearls & History

Pearls are the gems of choice for history's most prominent figures.

Below are just a few examples of the influence pearls have had on history:

• Queen Elizabeth 1, who cared little for other gems, adorned herself as well as her gowns and wigs with pearls.
• Queen Victoria gave her daughters two pearls on their birthdays so they would have a necklace by the time they reached maturity.
• According to Hindu lore, Krishna gave his daughter pearls on her wedding day, initiating the custom of brides wearing pearls.
• The first profitable cargo Christopher Columbus returned from The New World included a cache of pearls.
• Cartier acquired their Fifth Avenue showroom in New York by trading a double-strand of pearls as payment in full.