Two Tahitian cultured pearl necklaces by Sarah Senzer. When she began her career as a jewelry designer in Montreal, Sarah needed a model for her men’s pearl collection, so she decided to look for one on Ste.-Catherine’s Street in the heart of Montreal. She spotted this handsome guy and asked if he would be willing to be photographed with her pearl jewelry for free. Coincidentally he was trying to get into modeling and needed to build his portfolio so he agreed.

Pearls cultivated in French Polynesia and marketed in Tahiti are called Tahitian pearls. They are grown in the black-lipped (Pinctada margaritifera) oyster and come in a wide variety of shapes. Round, oval and drop shaped pearls that have formed around a shell bead nucleus are popular for single pearl pendants like the one shown in this photo. Sometimes beaded pearls have an irregular shape and are called baroque pearls. If they have circular formations around the pearl, they are described as circle or circled pearls.

Occasionally the oyster rejects the shell bead nucleus that was inserted with a piece of mantle tissue during the grafting process but continues to form a pearl thanks to the presence of the mantle tissue. If the pearl has formed in a saltwater mollusk, the resulting beadless pearl is called a keshi pearl by pearl traders and CIBJO (The World Jewelry Confederation). Gem labs, however, identify them as simply beadless cultured pearls. The multi-pearl necklace in this photo contains numerous keshis in addition to beaded pearls of various shapes, making it definitely a one-of-a-kind necklace.

Based now in Los Angeles, Sarah is a gemologist (FGA) (GG in progress), pearl specialist and founder of Senzerina Virtuous Jewelry™. Pearls are her favorite gem because they offer endless possibilities, blend with all skin tones, and as Jackie Kennedy once said “pearls are always appropriate.” Senzerina focuses on timeless designs, local production, and the highest quality materials available. Most of the jewelry is made by Sarah, with many local artisans involved in the delicate finishing touches. You can learn more at www.senzerina.com and Instagram

@senzerina.virtuousjewelry

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