The Magnificent Pearl - La Peregrine 'The Unconquerable'
26th Jul 2018
There are a few legendary pearls in the world, La Peregrine is definitely one of them.
Mary Tudor received La Peregrine as a gift from her husband, Philip II, King of Spain, on their wedding day in 1554. It was discovered in the waters of South America, and it was kept in European Royals hands from fifteen century to the eighteen century. The pearl received tremendous publicity in 1969 when it was sold at auction by Sotheby's to actress Elizabeth Taylor for $37,000. It seems only fitting that it should have found a home with Ms. Taylor. After all, it was she who played Cleopatra, and from all the descriptions, this pearl, like Cleopatra's gem, has no rival today, and is truly worth a king's ransom! Cartier Jewellers was commissioned to create a magnificent necklace to highlight this gem.
Pearls are the only 100% organic gem from a living creature used in jewellery. Although most pearls in the consumer market nowadays are cultured, it doesn't affect the cultured pearls are still organic as they come from living oysters. Unlike diamonds and most coloured gemstones, pearls beauty lies in that it needs no enhancement, nor cutting or polishing. Pearl is not only a beautiful gem but a powerful and meaningful gem as it exhibits an inner glow suggestive of life itself.