Ever since the 1930s when the fabulous and very French fashion style icon Coco Chanel famously layered heaping strands of faux pearls around her neck and shoulders, the sophisticated gem has been synonymous with the French.  Yesterday I read somewhere that white pearls are thought to be symbolic of tears and are officially worn by the royal family when in mourning. We have already seen images of female members of the royal family wearing pearls and I imagine we will see more in the days ahead.
This dates back to the time of Queen Victoria who following the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861, famously wore black for 40 years in tribute and only accessorised with black or colourless jewellery ? and pearls were her jewellery item of choice.  Thanks to a very interesting article on the metmuseum website I have learnt that Pearls are made by living creatures.They are one of the birthstones for June.Pearls are a symbol of Aphrodite. In the 1st century B.C., pearls could only be worn by the ruling classes.
Cleopatra once drank a dissolved pearl. I  am not planning on  dissolving and drinking one but I may just have to get my pearl necklace out of hiding and wear it as a sign of respect to Queen Elizabeth II.
Note if you would like to know if your pearls are real, just rub them against your teeth as real pearls make your teeth tingle..
belle journee a tous? 
Leeann x

      
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