[Jewelry making - Article 00088] - Re: [Orchid] Thoughts on the future of my trade

[Refined Designs]

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>     It was Mr. Mikimoto who invented the process of culturing pearls,
>     and they are a company of great pride, tradition and quality.
>     ...... BTW - I remember the story of an English gentleman who, not
>     long before cultured pearls were invented, traded an English Manor
>     house for a fine strand of pearls....... 

    To be technical for a moment, yes, he invented the process of
    culturing ROUND pearls in salt water in 1893. But it was the Chinese
    who invented the idea of culturing pearls by attaching tiny lead
    Buddhas, as well as mother-of-pearl half spheres, to the inside of
    freshwater mussels. The amazing thing is that they did this six
    centuries before Mikimoto! And I remember reading (in GIA and JCK)
    that Cartier in 1916 bought his beautiful building on Fifth Ave in
    NYC with a strand (or two) of natural pearls. Personally, I think I'd
    take that English Manor house... My own contact with a natural pearl
    was a lot less impressive - many years ago I purchased a small 4mm
    ish pale pink off-round, and when I went to drill it - surprise! -
    the stench of some tiny little critter that died inside ages ago was
    unforgettable! 

    And John, I want to tell you I checked out your website, and you do
    impressive work.

Cindy Crounse
Refined Designs Original Fine Jewelry
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