Historical pearls: The Hope Pearl

Posted on May 4, 2012 by admin

One of the most famous and historical pearls is the Hope pearl - a saltwater pearl that once belonged to the collection of Henry Phillip Hope in London (hence the name “Hope.”) It is 150 x 83 x 50 mm and weighs 454 carats.

Facts about the Hope Pearl:

– In the early 1990s it was studied by the Gem Testing Laboratory of Gemmological Association of Great Britain and the Mikimoto Research Laboratory and was determined to be a natural blister pearl possibly originating from the Pinctada margaritifera*

– The Hope pearl is drop-shaped and is white on its narrow end turning into greenish-grey/iridescent towards the bottom. On the lower end of the Hope pearl you can see ridges where once grew into the shell.

– The Hope pearl is set in an enameled pendant that looks like a crown. The pendant is adorned with diamonds, emeralds and rubies. The pendant has a total length of 9mm.

– It has been featured in several exhibitions, most recently at the “Allure of Pearls” at the Smithsonian. It currently resides at the BritishMuseum of Natural History.

*Much of the information above was obtained through the book “Pearls” by Elisabeth Strack. This is one of the comprehensive and well-written books about the history and science behind pearls.

Best parts of a wedding

Posted on May 1, 2012 by admin

Since we have so many brides visit MuseumWayPearls.com we thought we’d share the results of a new Associated Press-Brides.com poll that ranked what people’s favorite parts of a wedding are … from best to worst, here are the results from the guest perspective:

1. Watching the ceremony

2. The music and dancing

3. The food

4. Seeing the bride’s gown

5. Toasts and speeches

6. Cutting of the cake

7. Seeing the bridesmaids’ dresses

8. Group dances

9. Throwing of the bouquet

10. Throwing of the garter

11. Receiving line

Really … what is so bad about a receiving line? We are hoping “seeing the bride’s wedding jewelry” is included in #4 “seeing the bride’s gown.”

Mother’s Day Pearl Jewelry Shipping Schedule

Posted on April 15, 2012 by jacquitrotta@gmail.com

You would never disappoint mom on Mother’s Day, right? So make sure you have your elegant gift of pearl jewelry shipped out so it gets to her by Mother’s Day (hint: that is May 13).

May 7 is the last day for 3-day shipping for Mother’s Day gifts

May 8 is the last day for 2-day shipping for Mother’s Day gifts

May 9 is the last day for overnight shipping for Mother’s Day gifts

May 10 is the last day for Saturday delivery for Mother’s Day gifts

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Pearl jewelry gifts for 2012 graduates

Posted on April 9, 2012 by admin

With its many different sizes, colors and lengths pearl jewelry is the perfect choice for a graduation gift. However, with such a wide range of choices, not every piece works on every woman. Below is a guide for selecting the perfect gift for your graduate.

The Elegant Ivy-Leaguer: If her style is preppy, try a double-strand of freshwater pearls (above). In a price range of around $200, this is a gift she can wear to job interviews or simply on a night out with friends. If you are looking for a lower price range, try a single strand of pearls for that same simplistic/elegant look.

The Outdoorsy, Philanthropic graduate: Fresh out of college, her next stop is volunteering. She’ll wear something understated that is still elegant, but won’t get in the way. For her we suggest a pair of black or white saltwater Akoya pearl earrings. Depending on the size you choose, these start at $65 and can be customized depending on your selection of gold posts and overtone.

The Artistic graduate: She looks at life through as it is her own personal canvas, and stays away from anything traditional. For her we suggest a Tahitian pearl pendant necklace . In a price range of around $200 for a 10-11mm size, the brilliant undertone and unique quality of this pearl will make it an inspirational graduation gift.

The Valedictorian: Her hard work and intelligence will only continue to lead her to bigger and better places. She is organized and put-together and will really enjoy a freshwater pearl jewelry set (matching necklace, earrings, bracelet). Whether her style is pink pearls, lavender pearls, white or black, having a set she can wear everyday will give her the polished look she needs to continue her success.

The Student-Athlete graduate: She was a competitor on the field, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t graceful and stylish. A multi-color strand of freshwater pearls is perfect for the grad who loves a touch of elegance, without being overly traditional.

Whether they are leaving high school or college, pearls are a gift a grad can wear for many years to come. With many pieces falling within a price range of under $100 pearls not only make a thoughtful gift, but something she can wear in college or in her first job.

An artistic marriage proposal

Posted on April 1, 2012 by admin

People often ask us if we sell pearl engagement rings. While the answer is no, it doesn’t mean we don’t love a great proposal story (or a beautiful pearl ring).

Recently, our friends at Hatch My House, an online gift registry, posted an amazing story about a San Francisco man who had an elaborate mural carved into the sand as a way to propose to his girlfriend.

This is a photo of the artistic beach marriage proposal designed by Andres Amador. Imagine strolling up to that on a normal day at the beach? It is striking. Visit Hatch My House to read the full story.

In the News: Gilt’s Country Wedding Package

Posted on March 23, 2012 by jacquitrotta@gmail.com

: Courtesy: Gilt City

Are you looking to plan that perfect country wedding? Gilt City will do it for you! They are offering a wedding package at Gedney Farms in the Berkshires (Massachusetts) for 150 guests. With a price tag of $45,000 it is packed with everything you need to throw a dream wedding on a farm – without much work involved!

The Gilt City Wedding Package includes:

Destination wedding reception and ceremony for up to 150 guests (including bridal party) in the Berkshires
Fifteen-percent off on-site rooms for guests (with minimum two-night reservation of all 16 rooms)
Deluxe table-top with Villeroy and Boch china, Oneida silverplate cutlery, Chivari ballroom chairs and white table linens
Premium wedding menu with one hour deluxe hors d’oeuvres reception, deluxe dinner menu with first course, premium entree and deluxe wedding cake
Premium five-hour open bar and house wines with dinner
Champagne toast (with house Champagne)
$1,000 credit toward flowers
Photographer for eight hours on the day of the wedding
DJ for four hours on the day of the wedding
Spa packages for wedding couple at Mepal Spa with massage for both, pre-wedding trial hair and makeup, then full hair and makeup on the day of the wedding, pre-wedding luncheon at Medal Spa for up to 10 people
Bridal Suite at Gedney Farm for wedding couple for two nights
One night of accommodation for wedding party (up to four rooms)

Click here for more details on the wedding package.

Need stunning pearl wedding jewelry? Visit MuseumWayPearls.com

In the News: Choosing pearls for your wedding day

Posted on March 13, 2012 by admin

A recent article in the Examiner took a look a different jewelry options for brides and bridesmaids – including pearls, diamonds or other unique pieces of jewelry. They featured Museum Way Pearls as the place to go to buy pearl bridal jewelry in Boston.

Some tips on choosing wedding jewelry:

– Tahitian pearls may not be your typical wedding jewelry, but they create such a dramatic and elegant look they should be considered. If you think Tahitian pearls are too dark you could pick ones that are silver or something as basic as a Tahitian pearl pendant.

– Multi-color freshwater pearl jewelry is an excellent choice for a bride wearing a champagne colored dress. The warm tones of the pearls be highlighted really well by the color of the dress- both in person and in photos.

–Pearl earrings make a great bridal gift from the groom to his new wife. We agree- but the groom may want to find out what other jewelry she has planned to wear so you can match it.

Click here to read the full article, or for other great write-ups on Museum Way Pearls, visit our “In the News” section.

Pearl jewelry push presents

Posted on March 8, 2012 by admin

You’ve been rubbing her feet, fetching her snacks and reading through baby name books for the past nine months. You know who you are; you’re a dad-to-be. It is an enjoyable, nerve-racking and exciting time for both of you. One of the ways many couples are commemorating the birth of a baby is with what has been named the “push present.”

In 2007, BabyCenter.com surveyed 30,000 women and found 38% of new moms got a push present — and 55% of the still-pregnant wanted one.

If we could change the name to something more graceful we would, but for now we’ll call it a push present. Mariah Carey got a $12,000 pink diamond and sapphire necklace and Rachel Zoe got a $250,000 diamond ring. But, back here on earth, a push present is commonly just a small piece of jewelry or trinket of some sort given to a mom to celebrate the birth of a child. A push present can commemorate the new joy in your life and every time you wear the jewelry it will be a reminder of your baby’s birth.

At Museum Way Pearls, we often recommend dad’s purchase pearl earrings as a push present. They start at just $49, they are comfortable to wear, and they won’t get in the way during the hectic first few months after the baby is born. Or, if her style is geared toward a larger pearl, consider South Sea pearl earrings or Tahitian pearl earrings as a push present. Our pearls come in pink, white, black, gold, lavender and silver. Whatever you choose, we know she’ll love it!

Click here to see our full collection of pearl earrings or our full collection of pearl jewelry push presents.

10-strand pearl necklace

Posted on March 2, 2012 by jacquitrotta@gmail.com

Courtesy: House of Bun

Happy Friday! Museum Way Pearls sells beautiful pearl strands and even offers double-strand pearl necklaces or triple-stand pearl necklaces. So, we thought it would be fun to share this image we found of a 10-strand pearl necklace!

This ‘Phantom Queen’ necklace is made by Carola Bun for her new collection. The 10-strand pearl necklace is made with Austrian Swarovski Crystals and has a gold 10-strand clasp. The necklace is sold in a version made from Akoya and South Sea pearls for $14,800 or made with glass pearls for $1,100.

Would you wear this bold necklace? Let us know in the comments.

In the News: Jeweler Fights to Get Back Stolen Diamonds

Posted on February 28, 2012 by jacquitrotta@gmail.com

The world of jewelry is not always beautiful. The New York Times has a really interesting piece on $20M in jewelry that was brazenly stolen from Graff Diamonds in London in 2007. Today Graff is battling to get some of that jewelry back.

Click here to visit the New York Times to read the full story.