Composed of five strands of five hundred thirty-nine graduated natural pearls measuring approximately 12.55 to 4.00mm, completed by an 18 karat white gold brilliant-cut diamond-set clasp, length approximately 700 to 555mm.
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WONDER OF THE OCEAN Natural pearls exude refreshing elegance and an air of sophistication. Always enchanting, they rank among the most cherished jewelleries of royalty, in China and the West, to be passed down for generations. Indian legend has a saying that women of great beauty and power were born as the incarnate of pearls. During the Qing dynasty of China, Empress Dowager Cixi showed a special preference for pearls, wearing them all over her body, and ordered that an extraordinarily large pearl be placed in her mouth following her death. In Great Britain, the Duchess of Windsor, who caused the Duke of Windsor to abdicate his throne to marry her, was especially enamored with a pearl necklace he presented her. Later, it was offered at an auction and was sold for an astronomical price. The formation of natural pearls originates from species of shelled mollusks on the seafloor or riverbed. When stimulated by a foreign object, these creatures secrete a calcium crystalline substance around the irritant to protect themselves. The size, shape and colour of the pearl are determined by the number of nacre layers around it, along with the water quality and weather. Perfectly flawless natural pearls with magnificent colours are one in a million. Due to over-harvesting, global warming and environmental pollution, natural, untreated pearls are hard to come by, appearing only at the occasional auctions. To be offered in this auction is an impressive five-strand necklace composed of 539 round natural salt-water pearls (Lot 359). Manifesting an extraordinary splendor, this private collection is a rare find in the market, offering excellent investment and collectible values to jewellery connoiseurs.