I’ve Fallen in Love

In a convention center that is probably the size of downtown Calgary it would seem that the possibility of finding love amongst the hundreds of thousands of well dressed international attendee’s would seem likely.  Aside from the luxury goods that are being auctioned, purchased and traded the people coming from all corners of the globe dressed in their finest Chanel suits and Hermes handbags are as glamorous as the diamonds that lay on the sorting tables.  I must admit, I love coming to this show not only because of the extensive exhibitor list, but also to witness the fashion.  Like everyone else though, I am here to work.  It just so happened, however, that after my lunch break and on the commute from Hall 3 to Hall 5, I somehow landed in the estate jewellery hall.  It was completely by accident, but what a lovely accident.  The last time this happened I spent the entire afternoon slowly meandering past each and every counter.  I love the art deco period and any watch from this time done in rose cut diamonds and emeralds just stops my heart.  It seems a bit foolish, really, but it’s true.  I don’t know if it is the story behind each piece or being able to see the craftsmanship and time that went into each design.  I walked slowly today, just like last time.  I looked at all the old Tiffany diamonds, Buvlgari bangles and paved jaguars.  Van Cleef and Arpels coral and diamond earrings, Chanel pearl porcupine brooches and the list goes on.  I went about three quarters of the way down and was stopped in my tracks.  I stood, frozen, with a blank stare on my face, mouth half open.  Stephen Lack, the gentleman (and owner I would soon learn) who was working the booth knew exactly what I was looking at.  He rounded the counter and asked laughing “Are you counting them?” “Yes” I said.  “How many are there?”  He began counting.  How could he not know?  “24, 25…. There must be about 55,” he said.  “Would you like to see it?”  I knew that holding it would make my heart pound.  This quality could be seen across the room.   “Yes.” Of course I wanted to see it.  He placed a white velvet cloth across the counter and gently laid the most spectacular strand of white south sea pearls across it.  I knew that this was a rarity.  How rare, well, Stephen was about to tell me.  The strand was just over eighty inches long.  Placed around my neck in fell below my hips.  It must have weighed almost 3 lbs.  14.5mm, perfectly round, identically matched white south sea pearls, finished with a pave diamond clasp.  Stephen tells me the story of the strand.  He worked in pearl for many many years, and a good friend of his owns a pearl farm in Broome, Australia.  These pearls were matched over years and years of harvests.  There are two pearls, each with one minute surface imperfection; otherwise the strand is darn near perfect.  He works in estate jewellery now, but this strand, after being put together, was offered to him by his friend in Broome.  Although not in the pearl industry so much anymore, he knew he had to buy it.  The only other buyer at the table for the strand was Cartier.  Stephen took the opportunity, and a ‘friend’ price of course, which, from our conversation (I didn’t dare ask what he was selling it for) I gathered he purchased for well over one hundred and seventy thousand British pounds.  Beyond the beauty and rarity of such well matched south sea pearls, it is evident that this strand is a labour of love.