Pearls

Pearls have long held an aura of mystery, intrigue, and beauty. Kings have adorned themselves with pearls. Cleopatra, according to legend, made a wager with the Roman general Mark Anthony that she could serve him the most expensive meal ever prepared. Again, according to legend, Cleopatra dissolved one of her pearl earrings in a glass of wine and then offered it to Mark Anthony.

For centuries pearls remained a mystery. Where did pearls come from? How could one coax an oyster or mollusk into forming a pearl?

While natural pearls have been around since the first oysters, the cultured pearl is a fairly recent invention, with one exception; the blister pearl. The blister pearl was originally cultured by the Chinese more than 700 years ago.

Three Japanese men worked to culture the world's first round cultured pearl. They were Tokichi Nishikawa, Tatsuhei Mise, and Kokichi Mikimoto. The most famous of these men was of course Kokichi Mikimoto. His name has since become synonymous with the word "pearl".

Here at The Pearl Outlet, we offer some the finest quality pearls available, at wholesale prices to the public.