As products of a living animal, pearls are unique amongst gems. They are formed when an oyster secretes fluid, called nacre, to coat an irritant in its shell. Layer upon layer of this coating is deposited on the irritant until a lustrous pearl is formed.

For centuries pearls have been treasured by civilisations and cultures across the globe. Greek mythology saw pearls as tears of joy shed by the Goddess Aphrodite. Ancient Egyptians associated them with Isis; the goddess of healing and life, whilst an ancient Arab legend tells us that pearls were formed when dewdrops filled with moonlight fell into the ocean and were swallowed by oysters.

The development of the cultured pearl industry in Japan in the early 1900s meant that pearls became more readily affordable. As a result, their stunning diversity of size, shape and colour has made them hugely popular, and a highly desirable and versatile accessory for any woman’s wardrobe.

At Lawrence Sanders we offer you a number of different types of pearls to choose from.

Australian South Sea Pearls - Grown in pristine waters off the northern and western Australian coast, South Sea pearls are found in a variety of colours including white, silver, gold and rose. They grow to between 9mm and 16mm in size and can occasionally be found up to 20mm in size, though such pearls are very rare.

Tahitian Pearls - Tahitian pearls are grown in the clear warm waters off of French Polynesia. They come in various shades ranging from steel grey, green and purple, to blue and black.

Akoya Pearls - Grown off the coast of Japan these cultured pearls are white and lustrous and usually have cream and pink overtones. They rarely grow to more than 9mm in size and are most often used in pearl strands.

Pearls look great with white or yellow gold and can look particularly stunning when teamed with diamonds or coloured gemstones. Whether you are looking for a necklace, pair of earrings or a pendant or brooch come in and talk to our knowledgeable team. We have an extensive range of pearl jewellery for you to choose from or we would be delighted to design a piece of pearl jewellery especially for you.