“Life is made up of a few moments all strung together like pearls. Each moment is a pearl.”

A time honored, symbol of beauty and purity…without which no jewelry collection is complete.  

Pearls…all sorts.

As the saying goes, pearls are always appropriate whether your style is classic or contemporary.  And just in case you’re wondering…adding them to your outfit doesn’t necessarily mean unpacking your grandmother’s traditional string of pearls.

As you’re bound to discover from perusing our newest collection, pearl jewelry takes many forms and can actually be quite interesting.  Take for instance the Biwa -- a freshwater – pearl.  Biwas captivate thanks to their unusual shapes and characteristics.  Biwas actually helped make owning pearl jewelry affordable for many.  But cost aside, freshwater pearls boast beautiful sheen and add radiance to gemstone bracelets and necklaces.  While beautiful on their own, their shapes and colors make them an ideal gem to include in an ensemble of other gorgeous gemstones.

I suppose it’s important to remember that pearls of all types form as a reaction to an irritant inside the shell of mollusks like oysters and mussels. The mollusk reacts to the irritation by secreting a substance known as nacre, which over time, builds up to form a pearl. When this happens naturally, a natural pearl is formed…when an irritant is added artificially; the result is a pearl that we refer to as “cultured.”

Mother of Pearl generally refers to the thin layer of nacre -- the iridescent coating in a mollusk's shell. This thin layer can be carved or cut into cabochon-like shapes -- and as a result can take a variety of shapes. Seen in pieces displaying inlay or by itself, mother of pearl jewelry can evokes a vintage or romantic feel. Just take a look at the pieces by designer Janice Girardi.

And finally, the classic – the robust, round gems that dangle as earrings, sit solemnly in a setting, or amass in strands that everyone’s inner Audrey Hepburn finds hard to resist. But when you find the piece that captures your fancy -- timeless or not – know that part of their appeal is that pearls are most often associated with inner wisdom (think pearls of wisdom) and nurturing the growth of pure love.

So go ahead, fall in love with a pearl.

Beach Treasures in Duck, located exclusively on the Town of Duck’s Boardwalk on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, is proud to highlight our newest collection: Pearls. Thank you for visiting our site and reading our BLOG, “The Treasure Trove.”