Petals for St. Pat's, and more pretty pearls

Spring bumps my love of pearls to the next level, obsession. New offerings come to the market after the winter round of gem shows puts new material into designers' hands.

Designer Sara Canizzaro at Kojima Pearl (based in Oakland, CA) offers unusual varieties. You can (theoretically) spend tens of thousands, but here's the ocean's allure and luster for far less.
Above, Petal Pearl Strand: Chinese freshwater pearls (CFWP), a lavish 13x10mm per petal, $150 for the full strand. (Prices in $US.)

Left: Keishi Stacked Flat necklace: again, CFWPs in cream, rose, light pink, with a high lustre, just $60. Offhandedly elegant paired with a tee or in the collar of a shirt.


CFW "Pondslime" Pearl strand. Natural colours in an head-swiveling 11-12mm size, $359. Just gorgeous. Cool. I waaaant them.

Would you prefer to wear your pearls as earrings? These 18k gypsy hoops, left, set with small akoyas and faceted diamond beads are graceful yet hip; $395.

And finally, Happy St. Patrick's Day!


Here's how I'd like to wear my green: A lavish 15.8mm Kojima Tahitian pearl surrounded by natural colour green tourmalines, set in silver, $435.

I always try to recruit a GF for a drink in late afternoon, and this year's sidekick is my unemployed and authentically Irish friend J. We become the O'Malley Sisters, because what decent bar is going to turn away two middle aged sisters pining for their pint?

Sláinte Mhaith!