No pearls from UK’s biggest oyster
The biggest oyster ever found in the UK has been discovered in a market in Plymouth. The giant shellfish, which has been dubbed ‘Shelly’, measures 7” across and weighs 3lb. The oyster has been given a new home in the local aquarium, where it is on public display and proving to be quite the tourist attraction.
Unfortunately for fashionistas who are loving the current revival of pearl jewellery though, there’s no chance of a giant hidden gem inside the shell, because Shelly is the wrong type of oyster. It’s an especially large example of the edible oyster, the only species that live in the English Channel. Although edible oysters do secrete a hard substance called ‘pearls’ it is of no value, unlike the beautiful varieties that come from other oysters and are used to make jewellery.
The valuable pearls used to make pearl earrings, necklaces, bracelets and other jewellery are found in Pteriidae or feathered oysters, which nowadays are farmed on large pearl farms across the world, mainly in China. Pearls are formed when an irritant gets into the oyster’s shell and it protects itself by coating it with layers of a substance called nacre to make it smooth. Natural pearls are far more valued than cultured pearls as they are much rarer and hard to find.
Pearls have been worn for hundreds of years, traditionally by brides on their wedding day and they have constantly featured in the wardrobes of the rich and glamorous for generations. They are well known as a demonstration of purity and love, and large pearls are a way of publicly displaying wealth and class. The introduction of cultured pearls to the jewellery market has made them more widely available in recent years, and the popular vintage fashion revival along with a number of high profile celebrities publicly displaying their love for pearl sets and other classic jewellery means pearls are as desirable as ever. The most recent celebrity flashing her pearls on the fashion pages is America’s first lady Michelle Obama, who is becoming famous for her unique style and ‘imaginative’ choice of accessories combining pearls, brooches and waisted belts.
Creating a Vintage Look : Vintage Brooches, Earnings, & Bracelets
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