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.
Smoky Quartz – Smoky Quartz is a gray-brown to black variety of quartz; its name is derived from the appearance of gray or black ‘smoke’ within the quartz crystal. The ancient Greeks called this stone ‘krustallos’, which means ice crystal, because they believed quartz crystals were pieces of ice that were frozen so deeply they would never melt again. The stone of antique crystal balls has been equated with magical, mystical properties throughout the ages. Today, Smoky Quartz is believed to help one ground themselves to Earth, while aiding with balance, energy, and clarity.
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.
14K Gold – Gold has been revered and coveted since ancient times, worn by royalty, and associated with the divine and sacred. This fine metal has long been connected with alchemy and reminds us of our innate potential for transformation and enlightenment. Gold is given as a 50th anniversary gift.