Could pearls replace diamonds as a girl's best friend?

Australia's South Sea pearls are mostly white, while those from the Philippines are usually golden "The most popular type of South Sea pearl is undoubtedly the round white kind The better the lustre, the more sought after it will be.

In terms of size, pearls between 11mm and 12mm in diameter are always perceived as the optimal size for all kinds of jewellery designs," explains Ichimura Mirai, executive director of Mikimoto Pearl Jewellery, Hong Kong.While freshwater cultured pearls are mainly produced in mainland China, the Tahitian pearl - or black pearl - comes from the waters off the French Polynesian Islands Mikimoto's strands of basic Akoya pearls, known for their exceptional lustre, are part of its Best of The Best Collection, while the brand's high-jewellery Jeux de Rubans collection uses White South Sea pearls with a variety of precious coloured gems and metals Another creative design is "The magnificent single ear cuff with a white South Sea pearl", says Mirai.

Chopard sets avant-garde South Sea pearls in glamorous designs in an exuberant burst of colours An extravagant multistrand South Sea pearl necklace is anchored with an exquisitely crafted clasp, inspired by a Chinese ink painting of birds and blooms heralding the arrival of spring Another set of necklace and earrings in stylised floral designs has Tahitian pearls mounted in textured petals of rose-coloured gold and aluminium, mixed with white and coloured diamonds, South Sea pearls, peridot, yellow quartz, green sapphires and tsavorite. Source