PEARLS - Lifestyle And Statement

When I first started 15DEGREESLONDON, I made a deliberate decision to focus exclusively on pearls. To my surprise, as I reached the age of 35, I found myself becoming enthusiastic about things I never associated with myself before.

I believe it all started with a faux pearl necklace from Chanel. As I strolled along Old Bond Street in London, instead of being drawn to Mikimoto (the pearl god par excellence) or admiring a 10-carat pink necklace at GRAFF, I gradually found myself captivated by the exquisite creations of these natural wonders.

Pearls hold a central place in my collections, and I strive to incorporate them into almost every piece of jewelry. I aim to infuse the grounding energy that pearls exude into the jewelry, whether it's a bracelet, necklace, or bond.

Whether it's a result of age or simply a newfound appreciation for refined taste, I cannot say for certain. However, what I can confidently assert is that pearls complement any style and personality, possess a delightful tactile quality, exude opulence, and, at least in my experience, have a calming effect. They are truly universal.

Interestingly, fashion houses worldwide seem to share this sentiment. Pearls are emerging as a fashion statement that we are reluctant to remove hastily and certainly won't tire of anytime soon!

For those of you who are curious, here are a few fascinating facts:

Throughout various cultures, pearls have symbolized wisdom, loyalty, friendship, fertility, inner growth, and other beautiful attributes for thousands of years. They are flatterers of the hand and interact with the pH value of our skin. The more we wear them, the more lustrous they become.

Like gemstones, pearls exhibit significant variations that impact their price. Freshwater pearls, for instance, can be cultivated in rivers and lakes, resulting in a higher abundance compared to Tahitian, Akoya, or South Sea pearls.

However, this does not necessarily mean that freshwater pearls are inexpensive. Some freshwater pearls are so perfect and beautiful that they command prices equivalent to saltwater pearls.

To provide some guidance:

To provide some guidance:

  1. Akoya pearls are the smallest saltwater pearls, originating from the waters around Japan. They come in white, champagne, gold, or grayish colors.

  2. Tahitian pearls are grown around Tahiti, Australia, Bali, and other locations. Each oyster produces only one pearl, and the production process takes between 0.5 and 2 years. The colors range from black to peacock to iridescent purple, green, rose, brown, and cream—truly diverse!

  3. South Sea pearls are the largest pearls, with diameters reaching up to 3 cm. They are exclusively cultivated south of Japan, like Akoya and Tahitian pearls. Their colors include gold and cream/white.

  4. Natural pearls are pearls that occur without human intervention. I do not use these pearls because they are simply priceless. A beautiful multi-strand necklace of natural pearls can easily cost 2 million euros. Any more questions? :-)

All the pearls I use come from certified farms and are personally selected by me to maintain our high-quality standards.

So, embrace the enchanting allure of pearls and allow their timeless elegance to enhance your style and grace.

Be happy and beautiful!

Caroline