Caesar came, Caesar saw (the pearls), Caesar conquered: A five-minute guide to Britain's best natural jewel
Rosie Paterson and Jonathan Self share some pearls of wisdom.
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Since the dawn of time, pearls have won human hearts, from queens to brides and philosophers — and it’s not hard to see why.
- Pearls ought to be the eighth wonder of the world. They are created by bivalves — highly sensitive marine animals with shells in two halves — of which there are 9,000 species, including oysters and mussels. If anything squeezes its way into these shells, such as a tiny parasite or a grain of sand, the bivalve will very occasionally respond to the irritant by slowly coating it in something soft. In the case of oysters, the substance is called ‘nacre’ and the resulting object is, of course, a pearl
- Unlike any other valuable and coveted gem, pearls emerge fully formed. They don’t require cutting or polishing (or even, for that matter, setting) to reveal their loveliness
- There was a period during the 1980s when the ‘twin set and pearls’ was nigh ubiquitous, to the extent that they subsequently fell out of fashion and were briefly considered passé. It is probably the only time in human history when this was the case and it was swiftly over — there’s a reason Country Life’s Frontispiece, the most famous page in publishing, is known affectionately as ‘Girls in Pearls’
- Real pearls (that is to say both natural and cultured) come in a wide variety of colours, from pale white to a metallic black. The colour is determined by the variety of oyster in which they have been grown. Different countries specialise in different colours. For example, Australia has always been known for its large, white pearls, whereas Fiji grows a range of distinctive hues, from pastel shades of yellow to intense shades of aubergine
- Julius Caesar’s primary motive for invading Britain in 55BC was that the country was a major source of saltwater pearls. Wealthy ancient Egyptian women were buried with theirs. In ancient Greece, they were given to brides on their wedding day to stop them crying. Elizabeth I had 3,000 gowns and 80 wigs decorated with pearls. During the 19th century, they accounted for three-quarters of the jewellery sold in America
Country Life's top pearl picks
South Sea pearls are among the largest, rarest and most luxurious cultured pearls in the world. In Blackacre's Snowdrop earrings, they are suspended from recycled 18-carat white gold and natural diamond hoops.
Chaumet's emerald-cut aquamarine ring is set in white gold and offset with brilliant-cut diamonds and Akoya pearls. Price on application.
This delicate pendant is crafted in turquoise on one side and white mother-of-pearl on the other. It's part of Tiffany's T collection which was inspired by an archival 1975 bracelet.
Diorissima earrings by Dior Joaillerie, in white and yellow gold, white and yellow diamonds, turquoise, white cultured pearls and lacquer. Price on application.
Elizabeth Gage's Mabé ring features six round brilliant-cut diamonds, gold bead detailing and her signature wire-twist-wire edge.
This bracelet is part of Niccolò Pasqualetti's new collection for TASAKI which was inspired by how the pearl interacts with the ocean. The jewellery is all made out of 18-carat yellow gold and features Akoya pearls, freshwater pearls and South Sea Pearls, alongside rutilated quartz and diamonds.
Sophie Whitelaw is best-known for her bespoke engagement rings, but also designs a selection of ready-to-buy jewellery, including these baguette diamond and freshwater pearl drop earrings in 18-carat white gold.
Cassandra Goad's Alpha & Omega stud earrings are inspired by the first and final letters of the Greek alphabet.
CHANEL's Reach for the Stars high jewellery collection was designed around three symbols: the comet, the lion and, for the first time, wings. This double ring is rendered in 18-carat rose gold, platinum, diamonds, yellow sapphires, pink sapphires, orange garnets and Akoya pearls — premium, saltwater cultured pearls primarily farmed in Japan. Price on application.
Lily Gabriella's South Sea and Tahitian pearl earrings are set in 18-carat white gold and also feature black and white diamonds. Tahitian pearls are cultivated in the black-lipped oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) of French Polynesia and damous for their exceptional size. Price on application.
This antique pearl necklace dates to the 1920s. Its single row of cream-coloured pearls are strung on hand-knotted silk thread and secured with a diamond and platinum clasp.
Part of G Collins's Sienna collection — which features delicate star motifs and brilliant diamonds — these Baroque pearl drop earrings dangle below 18-carat rose gold stars.
