THE ART OF LIVING

Pearls: The Perennial Favorite
Sought by sultans, shahs, kings and queens throughout history, pearls are among the oldest and most revered gemstones known to man, symbolizing wealth, status and luxury. Today they remain a perennial favorite in jewelry design, highly prized by designers and wearers alike for their sumptuous forms and refined beauty. For centuries, the pearl has been viewed as a rare jewel of the sea, and it is only more so in modern times. Many of the world’s oyster beds have been depleted due to environmental abuse, and as a result, natural pearls (which are formed when a foreign parasite enters a mollusk) are objects of extreme rarity. Most of today’s pearls are not harvested naturally but with the aid of human intervention. From the lavish strands of white pearls to the perfectly-matched pairs of large white pearls and grey pearl drops adorning the end of the tassel, the number of high quality natural pearls that went into the design of this breath-taking Art Deco pearl and diamond sautoir is truly astonishing.

Sautoir Splendor
Jeweled sautoirs, loose-fitting rope-like necklaces with a tassel at the end that drapes down the chest or back, are appreciated for their versatility—they can be worn at maximum length with pendants plunging down a neckline or bare back, wrapped around the neck or worn as a choker.