A perpetual passion for pearls

As gifts from the sea, pearls have taken on magical and mystical qualities through the ages. According to a poetic tradition, water merges with moonlight to form the beauty of pearls. And these smooth and lustrous gemstones speak a secret language directly to the individual—it is said that no one can resist their charm.

The beauty and luster of pearls have made them tokens of love over the years. During the 16th century, Prince Phillip II of Spain gave La Peregrina Pearl to his bride Mary. This white, pear-shaped saltwater pearl, had a series of royal owners until the 1960s, when actor Richard Burton gave it to his beautiful wife Elizabeth Taylor.