Origin of Name :-
The jewelry item characterized as a fine pair of
natural pearl and diamond ear-pendants, appeared as Lot No. 148 at the
Christie's Contemporary Jewelry and Watches Sale, No. 7664, held at the
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, on April 29, 2008. The use of the term
"fine pair" appears to be more than justified as the item registered a
sale price of $157,000 which was almost double the upper pre-sale
estimate of $80,000. This was not surprising considering the
extraordinary characteristics of the drop-shaped pearls used in the
ear-pendants, as will be seen in the following account.
A fine pair of natural pearl and diamond ear pendants
©Christie's
Characteristics of
the fine pair of natural pearl and diamond ear pendants
The two drop-shaped
pearls in the ear-pendants are perfectly matched for their shape and
size
The pair of ear pendants, each 4.2 cm long is a
combination of a drop-shaped pearl and a marquise-cut diamond, with a
pave-set diamond half hoop top. The two drop-shaped pearls are perfectly
matched in terms of size, shape, color, luster and other properties. The
most striking feature of these drop-shaped pearls are their perfect
drop-shape, an extremely rare occurrence for natural pearls. One of the
drop-shaped pearls have dimensions of 15 mm and 9.38 mm, the greatest
length and width of the pearl. The other drop-shaped pearl have
dimensions of 14 mm and 9.23 mm. Thus one pearl is just 1 mm shorter
than the other pearl, but the difference between the width of the pearls
is only 0.15 mm, which is not so significant. Given the fact that these
pearls are natural pearls, we can still say that the two pearls are
perfectly matched for their size.
The color, overtone,
luster and orient of the drop-shaped pearls
The color of the drop-shaped pearls is silvery-white,
in which white color is the body color of the pearl and silver, the
overtone color. While body color is associated with the presence or
absence of pigments in the conchiolin part of nacre, overtone colors are
caused by a optical effect as light passes through successive layers of
aragonite. Absence of pigments in conchiolin makes it transparent,
allowing the white color of aragonite to show through, making the pearl
white. The luster and orient of the pearls are also exceptional in
keeping with the saltwater origins of the pearls.
Characteristics of
the marquise-cut diamonds
Each drop-shaped pearl is drilled at the top and
mounted with a circular disc with a loop, to which is attached the
setting carrying the marquise-cut diamond. The pave-set diamond half
hoop top, is attached to upper end of the marquise-cut diamond setting.
The metal used in the diamond setting appears to be silver or platinum.
The two marquise-cut diamonds are almost perfectly matched for size, shape,
and color. While one marquise-cut diamond weighs 1.25 carats, the other
diamond weighs 1.21 carats. The lab reports accompanying the pair of
pearl and diamond ear-pendants, reveal that both marquise-cut diamonds
are G-color with a clarity of VS2.
Exceptional features
in the pair of pearl and diamond ear-pendants that justifies the
qualification "fine"
Among the exceptional features in the pair of pearl
and diamond ear-pendants, that justifies the usage of the term "fine" to
describe them are :
1) The perfect drop-shape of the two pearls used in
the ear-pendants.
2) The two drop-shaped pearls matching perfectly for
size and shape.
3) The two pearls matching perfectly for color,
overtones, luster, orients and surface qualities.
4) The two marquise-cut diamonds, matching for shape,
size, color and clarity.
5) The overall beauty of the two ear-pendants.
History of the fine
pair of natural pearl and diamond ear-pendants
The possible source
of the pearls
The historical provenance of this unique pair of
natural pearl and diamond ear-pendants is not known. Event the identity
of the previous owner of this piece has not been revealed. The features
of the pearl such as the silvery-white color, appears to indicate the
origin of the pearls as the saltwater pearl oyster Pinctada radiata, the
main oyster species around which the international pearl industry was
based since very ancient times. Accordingly, the possible sources of
these pearls are the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea or the Gulf of Mannar,
the hub of the international pearl trade since time immemorial, or
Venezuela, where pearls from the Atlantic pearl oyster Pinctada
imbricata (now believed to be the same species as Pinctada radiata) was
exploited in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Laboratory reports
issued in respect of the pearls and the marquise-cut diamonds
Three laboratory reports accompanied Lot No. 148, the
pair of natural pearl and diamond ear-pendants. One of the reports
bearing No.012793 dated February 21, 2008, was issued by the Gem Testing
Laboratory of Great Britain, and authenticated the natural provenance of
the two drop-shaped pearls. A second report bearing No.13176081 dated
March 17, 2004, was issued by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA),
indicating that the marquise-cut diamond weighing 1.25 carats is a
G-color diamond, with a clarity grade of VS2. The third report bearing
No. 13390531 dated June 1, 2004, also issued by GIA, indicated that the
marquise-cut diamond weighing 1.21 carats, is also a G-color diamond,
with a clarity grade of VS2.
Sale of the fine pair
of natural pearl and diamond ear-pendants
The fine pair of natural pearl and diamond
ear-pendants was Lot. No. 148, at the Christie's Contemporary Jewelry
and Watches Sale, held in Dubai, on April 29, 2008. A pre-sale estimate
of $60,000-$80,000 was placed on the Lot. However, after a keenly
contested bid, the pair of natural pearl and diamond ear-pendants, was
sold for a record $157,000, which was almost double the upper pre-sale
estimate of $80,000. Overall out of the 15 lots of pearl jewelry on
offer, seven lots sold for prices much above the upper pre-sale
estimate. This included the famous Umm Kulthum's Nine-Row Pearl
Necklace, that registered a price of $1,385,000, almost 12 times higher
than the upper pre-sale estimate of $120,000.
You are welcome to discuss this
post/related topics with Dr Shihaan and other experts from around the
world in our
FORUMS (forums.internetstones.com)
Related :-
1)
Pair of antique natural pearl and diamond
ear-pendants
2)
Umm Kulthum's Nine-Row Pearl Necklace
External Links :-
1)
A Fine Pair of Natural Pearl And Diamond Ear
Pendants - Christie's Contemporary Jewelry and Watches Sale No, 7664,
Auction Catalogue -www.christies.com
References :-
1) A Fine Pair of Natural Pearl And Diamond Ear
Pendants - Christie's Contemporary Jewelry and Watches Sale No, 7664,
Auction Catalogue -www.christies.com
