The meaning behind this tiara is as valuable to my family as its worth. It doesn't take much to see that this piece is something extraordinary. Whether it be the one hundred and seventy one natural South Sea pearls, the fortune of diamonds complimenting the pearls, or the platinum in which the magnificent pearls rest. While even one of these elements might take your breath away...all together, leaves me speechless.
This beauty has been with our company, Imperial, since the 1940’s, which is prior to my family's ownership. When my grandfather purchased the company in 1971 with the transfer of ownership, came the tiara. It has been a piece that has not only become a symbol to us of the beauty and elegance, which pearls possess, but has provided inspiration for our logo as well. The center pearl resting on the peak of the tiara was coined the “Star of the Celebes”. Celebes is an island in Indonesia that is more recently known as Sulawesi. That particular pearl weighs in at 56 grains. The 170 other pearls range in color from golden, rose, silver blue, Smokey gray and a distinct blue. The total diamond weight is unknown.
Unfortunately this isn’t a piece that you will see being worn out and about, however it does not sit in a dark vault either. The Tiara along with a few other incredible pieces are kept in a showcase in my Grandfathers office. The tiara does however get a great deal of attention. We often conduct factory tours to our friends and clients where we always stop by the case and give a brief history.
In an age before Facebook, forums and Internet marketing, prized custom made pieces brought a great deal of attention to our company. After it’s construction the tiara went on tour where it was shown at high-end jewelry stores, trade shows, and other exhibits. This was a common marketing tactic of Joseph Goldstone the former owner of the Imperial Pearl Syndicate. Some of the pieces that he commissioned to be created consisted of, a cultured pearl hand bag made of twelve thousand individually sewn pearls, A dress made entirely of cultured pearls to be modeled at shows, The united states capital building made of 217,569 Akoya pearls, a replica of the Trylon and Perisphere made entirely of pearls for the 1939-1940 worlds fair and the golden gate bridge made of Akoyas.
- Josh Bazar |
