One of the largest natural pearls in existence today is the Hope Pearl. It belonged to its namesake – Henry Phillip Hope. Hope’s incredible gem collection also included the infamous blue Hope Diamond. The Hope Pearl is a Freshwater pearl that is mainly white and gradually becomes dark bronze towards the bottom. It is approximately 450 carat or 1800 grains. The hope pearls measures 51 mm wide and 114 mm long.
Natural pearls adorned the wealthy and powerful for not only centuries but thousands of years. Stories date back to the time of Alexander. In addition, the character for “pearls” appears for the first time in a Chinese dictionary written about 1000BC.
In more recent times, natural pearls have also played a prominent role. In 1917, the flagship Cartier building on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street was purchased for one double strand of natural Akoya and a token amount of $100. This building stands today to as a testament to the value placed upon pearls.
