Never mind Michelle Obama’s “perfectly toned” arms, her pearl necklace makes the look that will last.
Originally found in shallow rivers, pearls were the first real jewels that people wore. They formed in the shells of mollusks, and had the same calcium carbonate structure, in minute crystalline form. The best ones were spherical and smooth, but they were rare until the gem trade got started. Then Asian divers were sent into the seas, clutching rock holds to reach the bottom, bringing back their treasures to Bombay’s pearl market.
These days, most stones are cultured, which means they’re farmed by planting a nucleus of shell tissue into a mussel or an oyster, around which layers of pearl can grow. There are even high quality imitations, but experts still spot them fairly easily. Regular necklaces come in collar, choker or matinee lengths, with breastbone-hugging “opera” bands for the adventurous, and even longer “ropes” for wannabe flappers.
Celebs like Keira Knightley, Rihanna and Hillary Swank have recently helped make pearl necklaces a fashion statement once more but, as that uber arbiter of style, Audrey Hepburn, demonstrated way back in Breakfast at Tiffanys, pearls truly are timeless.
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