If you receive some pearl jewellery this Christmas – either as a gift for a loved one or a treat for yourself – it will come as no surprise that you’ll be in great company as some of the most beautiful and powerful women have shown a taste for pearl jewellery throughout history.
Pearls were known in the earliest civilisations, and the most famous queen of the Ancient World was a big pearl fan. In fact it’s rumoured that Cleopatra actually bathed in pearls.
Throughout the ages, pearls have been regarded as one of the ultimate symbols of wealth and don’t be fooled into thinking that our age invented bling. Check out some of the portraits of the powerful Tudors and you’ll see that Anne Boleyn, her daughter Mary Tudor and step-daughter Elizabeth I had no problems in flaunting their large collections of pearl jewellery. Indeed Anne Boleyn’s gorgeous long pearl necklaces, with a gold B on it and three pearls that dangled from this, is perhaps the first iconic piece of pearl jewellery.
The 18th Century was another period of high fashion and jewellery to match, and pearls were often sewn into clothes of the very wealthiest. Again, portraits detail the wide range of pearl jewellery than found favour in this gilded age. The largest pearls were used in brooches but one interesting use was in the form of pearl rings known as memento mori rings – worn as reminder of a departed love one.
Pearl Jewellery in the 20th Century – and today:
Pearls lost none of their appeal throughout the last century, and a new class of wealthy wearer drawn from the world of stage, screen and celebrity.
Think of any fashion icon from the 20th century and you can be sure they’ll have owned and worn pearls. Cinema stars such as Louise Brooks, Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn became as famous for their style as their performances and they all loved pearl jewellery – as hundreds of photos show. They were responsible for showing that pearl jewellery could adapt to the fashions of the day. Coco Chanel – who dominated post WW2 fashion – was a great pearl fan too and they looked great against her famous little black dress.
Powerful women also continued their love affair with pearl jewellery as Jacqueline Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth II and Diane, Princess of Wales testify.
Today pearl jewellery is within the price range of most women, making sure that women’s love affair with pearl rings, pendants, necklaces and other fashionable pearl jewellery continues.