Art Price Index: The Pearl in Capitals

There’s no drop in the pearl market — on the contrary, its pearly glow shines brightly!

A product of early antiquity, the ever-fascinating pearl, born of the oyster by the purest chance, has come down through the ages with true staying power. We should remember that, during the first half of the 20^th century, Paris was the global trading center for this “sea fruit”, as it was dubbed by Paul Claudel. The leading jewelry companies made the most of these ocean treasures, vying with each other in inventive ways to glorify them. The majority of those fished along the “Pearl Coast” (as the Gulf countries were often called) were shipped to France. At that time, this jewel was the focus of everyone’s desires, before slipping into relative obscurity because pearls were considered old-fashioned. But now, increasingly scarce in Mother Nature, they have returned in force with all their resplendent qualities, and auctions regularly post impressive results.

The delicate pearl is in the spotlight at the École des Arts Joailliers in Paris in an exhibition that runs until June 1^st