Pearls: Downton Abbey's '20s treasures
Happy New Year!
January 6 is the long-awaited North American return of "Downton Abbey", but thanks to a son's technical abilities, I raced through all of Season 3 over the holidays. Inspired and heart-wrenching season (that's all I'll say), with a bonus feature: fabulous pearlwatching in the Abbey and beyond!
The Countess of Grantham is costumed in pearls that would look perfect 90 years later, and it is she, as you would expect, who wears the largest, most luminous necklaces and earrings:
Lady Mary, Lady Edith and Aunt Rosamund typically wear ropes of smaller pearls, knotted or simply loose:
In the Roaring Twenties, these would have been natural pearls; culturing was in its infancy. A rope of small pearls such as Lady Mary wears above would still have been a serious piece of jewelry. Pearls from Scottish rivers–now nearly extinct–were prized. (Lady Sibyl, now married to Branson, is not costumed in pearls, to underscore her new status and far more modest married life.)
The pearls cast their timeless effect, lightning the women's faces and flattering evening and daywear. They retain their magic today, though we rarely dress for dinner in magnificent embroideries or attend a cricket match in ecru chiffon.
2013 picks
To join the Abbey's beauties, I'd look for a versatile yet 'strong' piece that has something of the unusual about it, but also retains the glow and elegance of the gem.
Present day pearls exhibit a wider range of colour and shape than ever before, and you don't need a fortune to afford a stunning choice. Silver-blue baroque akoyas, natural colour in a generous 9mm-9.5mm size, are $522 for an 18-inch necklace, from Pearl Paradise.
A white, pink and grey freshwater 8.5-9mm strand from Winterston is on sale till January 20 (or while supplies last) for £215. The whites and pinks are natural, the grey is dyed.
This vintage garnet, pearl and diamond necklace was made thirty years later (ca. 1950) but is decidedly Cora Crawley, charming yet idiosyncratic. Price, $595 at Beladora II.
Ninety years after they cozied up to coronets, pearls have stepped beyond the aristocratic realm, beautiful as ever but infinitely more affordable.
So, beginning Sunday evening, watch away and enjoy, including the parade of pearls!
January 6 is the long-awaited North American return of "Downton Abbey", but thanks to a son's technical abilities, I raced through all of Season 3 over the holidays. Inspired and heart-wrenching season (that's all I'll say), with a bonus feature: fabulous pearlwatching in the Abbey and beyond!
The Countess of Grantham is costumed in pearls that would look perfect 90 years later, and it is she, as you would expect, who wears the largest, most luminous necklaces and earrings:
Lady Mary, Lady Edith and Aunt Rosamund typically wear ropes of smaller pearls, knotted or simply loose:
In the Roaring Twenties, these would have been natural pearls; culturing was in its infancy. A rope of small pearls such as Lady Mary wears above would still have been a serious piece of jewelry. Pearls from Scottish rivers–now nearly extinct–were prized. (Lady Sibyl, now married to Branson, is not costumed in pearls, to underscore her new status and far more modest married life.)
The pearls cast their timeless effect, lightning the women's faces and flattering evening and daywear. They retain their magic today, though we rarely dress for dinner in magnificent embroideries or attend a cricket match in ecru chiffon.
2013 picks
To join the Abbey's beauties, I'd look for a versatile yet 'strong' piece that has something of the unusual about it, but also retains the glow and elegance of the gem.
Present day pearls exhibit a wider range of colour and shape than ever before, and you don't need a fortune to afford a stunning choice. Silver-blue baroque akoyas, natural colour in a generous 9mm-9.5mm size, are $522 for an 18-inch necklace, from Pearl Paradise.
A white, pink and grey freshwater 8.5-9mm strand from Winterston is on sale till January 20 (or while supplies last) for £215. The whites and pinks are natural, the grey is dyed.
This vintage garnet, pearl and diamond necklace was made thirty years later (ca. 1950) but is decidedly Cora Crawley, charming yet idiosyncratic. Price, $595 at Beladora II.
Ninety years after they cozied up to coronets, pearls have stepped beyond the aristocratic realm, beautiful as ever but infinitely more affordable.
So, beginning Sunday evening, watch away and enjoy, including the parade of pearls!
Comments
Great captures of period pearl jewelry. I can hardly wait for DA to return!!
My husband bought me pearls for Christmas. He ordered one strand on line, choosing the diameter (by millimeters) and then the length, which he thought was centimetres, but turned out to be 50 inches. When they arrived he was so disappointed that he went out and bought (locally) an 18 inch strand. I'm keeping both - wearing the longer one knotted or looped.
They are cultured pearls, a creamy white that I love.
Happy New Year!
Kristien: Ask your friends not to say anything, it would so change your enjoyment of S2! The colours you describe flatter any skin tone and it would be fun to play with whether you prefer cream or rosé overtones. Generally, follow the undertone in your skin, peach or pink.
LPC: There are even more! But if watching more than once, you will see them.
Pseu: Tiny pearls have their place (and I've posted on that) but for grown women I usually do not show anything smaller than 9mm.
Kathy: If feeling mumsy in pearls when dressed up, a woman might either
- buy a strand of top grade South Seas or
- restyle her pearls into something hipper than a plain necklace, or
- layering the necklaces and add more colours or varieties;
All of which are fun to do!
Lorrie Orr: NO problem, honey! BTW nearly all pearls sold today are cultured- or that 50 inch strand of rounds would be the price of a Lamborghini.
Chicatanyage: I'm confused as I was thinking the season had already aired in the UK. Season 3 is a blockbuster.
rb: I need and appreciate the encouragement, so I'm grateful to hear this!
hostess; Just go back and watch again! Yes, the hats are outstanding, as they move into the 20s and away from wartime restrictions.
This post reminds me that I keep forgetting to post photos of a portrait I snapped in Amsterdam last spring because of its rendition of pearls, thinking of you. . . one of these days.
Love your pearly posts.
Gretchen: We don't have TV either and gorging, commercial free is such fun.
materfamilias: I predict you'd love it and am surprised you have not seen one way or another.
Anonymous: Thanks for the correction and enjoy those most beautiful akoyas!
I sometimes feel Mumsy just being be! And yes, pearls can add to that. I understand about making them a bit different and current. I need to think about doing that with an old strand. I have a newer one that is larger pearls and not just round. I feel a little better in it, but not entirely.
I did watch Downton Abbey last night. Did anyone else notice the editing issue? (Jerkiness)
I look forward to this season