Interviewed Dariga MasenovaWHAT IS THE SECRET OF PEARL - THE MOST MYSTERIOUS AMONG JEWELRY STONES AND THE ONLY, NOT REQUIRING ADDITIONAL PROCESSING? MAYBE THIS IS A DEW DROP that has fallen into the oyster, as the Arabs believed, or, according to the Chinese legend, the moonlight petrified in water ...
Audrey Tcherkoff, executive director of jewelry company Robert Wan, and her story about Tahitian pearls helped us get closer to the solution.
Audrey, is it true that Tahitian black pearls are the most expensive?
The color of Tahitian pearls, contrary to myths, is not only black and silver, but also "moon", pink, lilac-blue, green, copper and gold.
The question of color is a matter of taste, it is difficult to determine which pearls are the most expensive, but we can say for sure that the price rises with the size of the stone. Robert Wan is one of the few companies specializing in the production of the rarest pearls with a diameter of more than 13 mm. The size of the middle pearl varies from 9 to 12 mm. The most difficult thing is to choose stones in shape and color: sometimes it takes several years to create one strand of Tahitian pearls with stones that perfectly match all the criteria. The pearl is rounder and more symmetrical, the higher the quality. Unfortunately, only 5% of the total crop brings such an “ideal”.
Robert Wang is called the "Pearl Emperor." Why?
Robert has an authentic lifestyle based on the Zen religion philosophy. One of the tenets of Zenbuddism is the belief that every person has an artist, not always a master of painting, but always a “painter of life”. Robert became successful not only thanks to his tremendous energy and motivation, but also to his inner harmony.
He fascinated me from the first meeting. Robert did not ask standard questions, but asked under what zodiac sign I was born. It is important for him to understand my values and philosophy of life. Robert is an unrestrained optimist and infects everyone around him with his energy.
How well is the Robert Wan brand represented in Dubai?
We feel great here: our collections are in Bloomingdale's department store, as well as in the Robert Wan showroom in the Almas Tower. I think that we were warmly received in the region also because among ancient Arabs a culture of pearl mining was developed.
What novelties will you please fans of Robert Wan?
I hope you enjoy our new collections: The Treasures, Divas, Robert Wan Bridal, Wan Designs and Bespoke. The elegant design of the Treasures collection is the continuation of the fabulous beauty of the island of Marutea, located in the Tuamotu archipelago.
This is part of French Polynesia. The collection includes beads, bracelets, rings, and the color of the pearl from which it is made varies from white and pink to golden. These are the colors of exotic birds, lagoons and sunsets of the island of Marutea.
Bridal Wedding Collection - sophisticated and sensual. Pearl jewelry framed with diamonds is complemented by precious metals. Each bride can find her own “miracle”.
Collection Divas - timeless: bracelets, short ring-neckers and sautoirs (neck ornaments in the shape of a scarf) are made of rare and very expensive pearls.
Wan designs - a modern, fresh collection. Pearls are strung on silk ribbons, which gives the design an element of the game.
Finally, jewelry from the series Bespoke are created in a single embodiment.
Does cultured pearl differ from natural pearls?
Absolutely not. In the past, people were skeptical of such pearls.
Even when the legendary Kokichi Mikimoto received a patent for the cultivation of pearls, this kind of stone was in doubt. However, they all disappeared when, in the 30s of the last century, scientists Louis Bhutan and Henry Lister Jameson proved that there is no difference between natural and cultured pearls.
Today you have such elegant jewelry. What collection are they from?
Thank you I love jewelry! I am wearing a Couture ring from The Treasure collection and Strand Poudre beads from Divas collection. They fit literally into any outfit.
How capricious is the pearl in care?
Compared to a diamond, the hardest mineral, pearls are considered “soft”. It can be scratched with any other mineral, whose hardness is higher, therefore it is better to store pearls separately from other jewelry in a soft bag. Occasionally, it can be washed in clean sea water and wiped with a soft cloth. The composition of pearls is based on calcium carbonate, therefore its surface is especially sensitive to acids. Be sure to remove jewelry before going to the pool of chlorinated water and clean it away if you have started cleaning the house: all detergents are harmful to pearls. Try to avoid spirits on its surface.
Mom told me that pearls love warmth, so jewelry from this stone does not need to be hidden far ...
Absolutely true: the more often you wear jewelry with pearls, the longer they will last you. The surface of the pearl is sensitive to moisture, so it is better if it is moistened from time to time by contact with the skin. Pearls do not like high temperatures and, if stored for a long time in a dry safe, it can crack. Therefore, wear it to your health!
