Since mankind was able to dive into the sea, pearls have been valued as the rarest and most precious of gems.

They adorned the crowns of Roman Emperors and were the first treasure to be carried off when that empire fell. The Persians, Chinese and Indians celebrate their beauty in their ancient literature. The Talmud and Bible exhort the rarity and value of pearls, and the Koran depicts a Paradise dripping with these gems.

At the height of the Roman and Egyptian civilisations, Cleopatra famously invited Antony to the most expensive dinner ever held, where she promptly ground up and drank one of her priceless pearl earrings.

Another famous queen to celebrate the beauty of pearls was Queen Elizabeth I of England. She had a passion for this queen of gems and wore them as headdresses, long strands and chokers, on bodices and piecrust collars, the perfect compliment to her royal status.

Today, the cultured pearl is one of the most sought after gems in the world. In perfect harmony with nature, this most precious of gems is popular with young and old alike, who enjoy the way the pearl feels against their skin, and their delicate lustre.