Necklace Details
Pearl (Japan) – Pearls have been desired around the world for more than 4,000 years and associated with the moon, wisdom, and love. Formed when a mollusk slowly coats an irritant with thousands of layers of nacre, the iridescent material responsible for pearl’s lustrous shine and organic shape, Pearls are the only gem that comes from a living creature. In 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto successfully cultured a pearl for the very first time in Japan and in the early 1900s, pearls became a symbol of the Divine Nine Sororities and the inner strength and resilience needed for college-educated Black women to challenge discrimination. Today, Pearl is one of June’s birthstones and given as 3rd and 30th anniversary gifts.
Crystal – Crystal is a highly polished glass and faceted made from natural quartz sand with a sparkle and shine similar to diamonds. Until 2012, Crystal made by adding lead which provided more hardness than traditional glass. The most famous manufacturer of crystal beads is Swarovski.
Swarovski Crystal (Austria) – Swarovski was founded in 1895 following Daniel Swarovski’s invention of the world’s first electric-powered crystal cutting machine and lexicon of crystal cuts that produced a new level of crystal clarity. After viewing the Northern Lights, he partnered with Dior to create his famous Aurora Borealis, or AB, coating, a very thin layer of gold applied to half of a crystal’s facets to create an iridescent, shimmering effect. Today, Swarovski Crystals provide the sparkle for Beyonce and Taylor Swift’s concerts, most notably with 250,000 crystals on Beyonce’s red catsuit (Cowboy Carter Tour) and more than 5,000 on Taylor Swift’s guitar (Eras Tour), now housed at the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum.
Sterling Silver – Silver is considered a fine metal and, because of its durability, a tangible representation of lasting love and family bonds. It is also believed to strengthen emotional, mental, and physical well-being by promoting inner peace, alleviating stress and anxiety, and warding off negative energy. Wearing or carrying sterling silver serves as a personal talisman, enhancing one's inner strength and resilience. Silver is given as a 25th anniversary gift.