The Great Gatsby

Glamour, Champagne and pearls , pearls , Pearls !

The newly released film, ‘The Great Gatsby’, staring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton, to name but a few, follows the exciting memories of Tobey Maguire’s character, Nick Carraway, as he journeys back to New York City in the spring of 1922.

The lavish Art Deco scenery and costumes are a feast for your eyes, adding to the drama unfolding on screen.

Would you like to add some 1920s glamour to your wardrobe?
Pearls are perfect for adding elegance and beauty.
Not only do the pearls make you look fabulous, but they also have the added extra bonus of NEVER going out of fashion!

‘Pearls are a mainstay and immune to the vagaries of fashion.’ – Chrissie Douglas

Fancy some long Pearl earrings?
These beautiful white Freshwater Pearl earrings are set on sterling silver with 3 pearl drops. The perfect accessory to your day or evening outfit. As you move the pearl drops will delicately sway, bouncing the refracted light onto your face.
These earrings are also available in a variety of other colours.

‘A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls.’ – Coco Chanel’

Looking for pearl rope necklaces?
Here at Coleman Douglas Pearls we have Freshwater pearl, Akoya Pearl , Tahitian Pearl and South Sea Pearl ropes.
Come to our Pearl Showroom at 42 Beauchamp Place, London, SW3 1NX to see more of our collections.

Now for the statement pearl bracelet.
Nothing says ‘Pearls‘ quite like our Titania 14 strand Freshwater Pearl cuff. Available also in black, this bracelet is truly a must have.

Alternatively you could opt for our stunning South Sea and Tahitian Pearl ring with diamonds. Having recently been featured in The Sunday Times – Style magazine, within the article ‘Putting on the Glitz’, it is the ideal 1920s statement ring.

As Edwina Ings-Chambers from The Sunday Times says, ‘Channel Gatsby and go Deco with your Decoration!’

If you have pearl jewellery at home but sadly the style doesn’t suit you, then make an appointment with our Pearl Specialist and Designer, Chrissie Douglas, and bring them in so that they can be re-designed into jewellery that you will treasure and take pleasure in wearing.

Pearls are for everyone!

Why should grown-ups have all the pearl fun?
Here at Coleman Douglas Pearls we are passionate about finding the perfect pearls for you, no matter what your age!

Our Children’s Pearl collection is made up of beautiful pearl bracelets, pearl necklaces and pearl earrings.
Come along to our Pearl showroom, situated at 42 Beauchamp Place, London, SW3 1NX, where a member of our Pearl Team will be happy to guide you around the pearl jewellery.

But if you can not wait till then then feast your eyes on this fun, petite sterling silver dragonfly necklace with double tassel. Or this classic white freshwater pearl droplet necklace with Aquamarine and Iolite spacers.

Prefer more colour?

How about one of our bright Ribbon and Freshwater Pearl spacers.
There are numerous ways to wear these. As a necklace, bracelet, anklet or ever a hairband.
Available in a wide variety of ribbon colours, from black through to white, you are sure to find one to suit.

If you like the idea of pearl hair accessories then just look to the right!
Made with a single Freshwater Pearl set into an enamel flower these hair clips are a fun alternative to the plain hairband.

As well as having a gorgeous selection of ‘ready to buy’ pearls, we also offer a range of fantastic services. For example, Bespoke jewellery, Re-stringing and Re-designing, Ear-piecing, and a Valuation service.

If you would like to know more about one of these services please call us on 020 7373 3369, or come and visit our Pearl Showroom.

Pearls and Men….together?

Isn’t it funny how girls seem to drape pearls all over themselves, while men seem to shy away from Pearls. But why is that? Is it because there isn’t enough/any pearl jewellery available for men?

Pearls symbolise wisdom and wealth, therefore it is hardly surprising that many Kings, Emperors  and Maharajas in history favored them above other stones, choosing in some cases to wear as many as possible!
The Maharaja on the left was obviously an avid fan of pearls as we can see pearl necklaces , pearl pins and pearl encrusted robes adorning him. A huge display of his wealth and power.

Julius Caesar’s love of pearls is said to have been a contributing factor to his invasion of England in 55BC. Scottish pearls were well known to the Romans as some of the finest available, alongside Oriental pearls from the Persian Gulf and Ceylon.

Now boys, we are not suggesting that you walk around wearing several pearl necklaces and pearl bracelets, but how about wearing this simple necklace made with black leather and a deep metallic coloured Tahitian Pearl.

Born in Black lipped oysters Tahitian Pearls come in a wide variety of colours, naturally dark they range from grey to black and peacock green to aubergine. However, you can sometimes find very light coloured Tahitian Pearls that range from white with grey overtones to yellow and pink.

These elegant Tahitian Pearl cufflinks are the perfect stylish accessory for your cuff. With blue, green, purple and grey hues the cufflinks will go with any coloured shirt.
Pop into our Pearl Showroom, 42 Beauchamp Place, London, SW3 1NX, to see more of our ‘Pearls for Men‘ collections.

Pearls Come out to Play

Hooray the sun has finally come out, but is your wardrobe ready?!
How about purchasing some stunning Freshwater Pearls from Coleman Douglas Pearls ?!

Created in a mussel, Freshwater Pearls come in a variety of natural colours from white to pink.

By ‘treating’ peach and pink freshwater pearls you can produce grey and black pearls, in a process similar to developing a photograph. Copper pearls are produced by dying freshwater pearls.

A mussels life is short but very busy. They get to work making Freshwater Pearls at the age of 3, being discarded at the age of 18 with their shells returning to the water to provide calcium for future generations.

We have a variety of designs that use Freshwater Pearls . From white classic pearl studs to long 3 strand dramatic black pearl lassos.

On the right you can see our show-stopping black freshwater pearl ‘Titania’ choker with collar and our fantastic 14 strand black freshwater pearl cuff.
The ‘Titania’ choker can be worn with or without the 4 strand freshwater pearl collar.

Prefer pink freshwater pearls?

How about this delicate 3 strand freshwater seed pearl and Biwa pearl bracelet finished with a sterling silver bar clasp.
This bracelet is perfect for a relaxed summers day and for smart evening event.
It is also available in white.

If Copper is the colour for you then this necklace is a must have.
Using Copper Freshwater Pearls and Rock Crystals the lasso is the ideal necklace for this summer.
It can be worn with the large Rock Crystal drop at the front or at the back giving you the choice of 2 different looks.

These elegant grey Freshwater Pearl cufflinks are a lovely alternative to the plain metal ones that he wears.
As you look at the grey pearl you see blue, purple and green hues shining out allowing them to tone in with any shirt he might own.

Last but by no means least we look at white Freshwater Pearls.
The timeless classic Pearl studs are always a hit, but this summer why not have some fun with these white freshwater pearl drop back earrings.

To see more of our wonderful pearl designs, or to use our re-stringing, re-designing or bespoke service come to our Pearl Showroom, situated at 42 Beauchamp Place, London, SW3 1NX.

Hollywood and Pearls

Check out our ‘Coleman Douglas Pearls “At the Movies” window.
Displaying a selection of our lustrous pearls featured in several popular films and TV programs. For example The Debt , Chalet Girl , Miranda , Lewis and Match Point .

If we look back in film history we see that pearls have always been a regular on the big screen, with many of the actresses choosing to wear them off screen too. Grace Kelly being a prime example.

‘I favour pearls on screen and in my private life.’ – Grace Kelly

The common link in all of the film pictures below is PEARLS!
But can you spot them all?
Some of the pearls are more obvious then others but none the less they are there, center stage doing what they do best… taking a back seat and glowing.

Yes pearls are a timeless classic gem, and yes they were worn throughout during the above mentioned films and TV programs, but are they still fashionable? and are they still used in modern day films?

Yes and Yes. If you watch TV or have been to the cinema in the last 2 years then I can guarantee that you will have seen a feast of pearls gracing the red carpet and the big screen, some of them being our pearls!

It seems that even though fashions change pearls are still present making their wearer look and feel fabulous!
And it’s not just actresses that are choosing pearls. Pop stars are too.

Take Rihanna for example. Here she is wearing multiple pearl strand necklaces of varying lengths and pearl sizes, with a pair of classic pearl stud earrings earrings to match.
Coco Chanel would have been proud as she famously said:

‘A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls.’ – Coco Chanel

If you would like to join ‘The Stars’ then come round to our Pearl Showroom situated at 42 Beauchamp Place, London, SW3 1NX, where one of our Pearl Team will be happy to guide you to the perfect pearl necklace , pearl bracelet or pearl earrings.

Whether you are a film star or a goddess, pearls are for everyone!

The Iron Lady and her PEARLS

When you think of Margaret Thatcher 3 things in particular spring to mind, her will power, the phrase ‘Handbagging’ and PEARLS.
She wore her pearls everywhere! In Parliament, at home, even driving tanks!

When starting out in Politics it was very clear that she was moving into a very male dominated environment. Therefore she needed to redefine her ‘look’ in order to be taken seriously.

In the film ‘The Iron Lady’, released in 2011, starring Meryl Streep as Baroness Thatcher, we see a snap shot of how Margaret responded to being told that her hats would have to go as well as her pearls and that her voice was too high for politics. Her response was… “I may be persuaded to surrender the hat. The pearls, however, are absolutely non-negotiable!”

“…this lady’s not for turning!”

The double strand pearl necklace, given to Margaret by her late husband Denis in 1951, and her large pearl and yellow gold earrings were constant companions to her throughout her Political carrier and thereafter.

Pearls symbolise purity, wisdom, beauty and wealth. Seen as classic without being ‘flashy’, they fit into a look that spells out reliability and no-nonsense. It is hardly surprising to find that pearls have been favored down the centuries by many style leaders from Cleopatra to Anna Wintour, playing a central role in style and refinement.

‘I feel undressed if I don’t have my pearls on. My pearls are my security blanket.’ – Lady Sarah Churchill

On Thursday morning we saw another well known lady wearing ‘power’ pearls .
Spotted at the G8 Foreign Ministers’ conference, Angelina Jolie wore a simple black outfit accompanied by a classic strand of pearls and pearl studs.
She had flown over to London to back the urgent cause: ‘fighting sexual violence in military conflicts’.
Considering the symbolism of pearls – purity, wisdom, beauty etc., they were the ideal accent to wear for this conference.

If you would like to know more about pearls then come along to one of our Pearl Talks happening throughout the year.

Purchasing Pearls?

Here at Coleman Douglas Pearls we are passionate about finding the perfect pearls for every girl. When choosing which cultured pearls you would like, be it South Sea Pearls , Tahitian Pearls , Akoya Pearls or Freshwater Pearls, there are 6 main points to look out for.

LUSTRE:
Lustre is the most important element when purchasing pearls as it is this that will light up the wearer’s face making her ‘glow’.
Here at Coleman Douglas Pearls we only pick high lustre pearls to go into our designs.

THICKNESS OF NACRE:
When looking at a good pearl you should never see any dull areas or see the pearl ‘blinking’ at you, if it does then that is a sign that the nacre coating is far too thin. The thicker the nacre the longer the pearls will last!

COLOUR:
Most people think the whiter the pearls the better. This is all very well as long as you suit bright white pearls!

SHAPE:
Pearls come in a huge variety of shapes so take care when purchasing your pearls that you choose the shape that looks best on you.

SURFACE PERFECTION:
A few little marks give the pearls the ‘hallmark’ of genuineness, but watch out for the very blemished pearls as they have far less value.

SIZE:
You need to consider your height and build.
Large pearls will swamp a petite girl, whereas a tiny single strand of pearls would look lost on a very tall, broad girl.

If you would like more information on pearls come along to one of our Pearl Talks. Our Pearl Specialist and Designer, Chrissie Douglas, will take you through the history of pearls, how they are made, how to tell if it is a genuine pearl as well as much, much more. Do remember to book a place for these talks as space is limited.

Brides + Pearls = The Perfect Combination!

Throughout history Pearls have been adorning the style leaders of their time. Here at Coleman Douglas Pearls we can help you discover the pearls of your dreams! From ‘Classical Romance’ Pearls to ‘High Fashion’ Pearls we have the Pearls for everyone.

When it comes to your Wedding you want to look your best, but how can you achieve this while still looking natural and not ‘breaking the bank’?
The answer is PEARLS!
Ever wondered why every time you see a girl wearing natural or cultured pearls she is glowing? It is because of the light being refracted into the pearls and then reflected out onto the wearer, giving her a soft, warm uplift of light onto her face.

Our ‘Joy of Life’ white Freshwater Pearl drop earrings are the perfect addition to every wedding dress. As you walk down the aisle the freshwater pearl drop will delicately sway. These earrings also come on sterling silver.

How about this fine double strand Freshwater Pearl necklace? Made up of white freshwater seed pearls with a fixed pearl drop in the center finished off with our secure signature pearl clasp.
The length of this necklace can be altered by applying more twists to the strands.

To accompany the necklace we have this delicate white pearl bracelet. Using white freshwater seed pearls with white Biwa pearl accents, the bracelet adds a little detail to your wrists without taking the focus from your face.

To see more pearl designs pop into our Pearl Showroom situated at 42 Beauchamp Place, London, SW3 1NX, where a member of our Pearl Team will be happy to help.

The Golden Egg!

This Easter instead of trying to find the biggest, yummiest Chocolate eggs, why not go for Golden Eggs, better still…..Golden Pearls ! Here at Coleman Douglas Pearls we have stunning golden South Sea Pearl earrings , necklaces , bracelets , rings as well as many other pearl accessories.

Fancy a stunning golden South Sea Pearl necklace? How about 3?!
We, Coleman Douglas Pearls, have several lustrous South Sea Pearl strands in various golden hues and pearl sizes.
Come along to our Pearl Showroom, situated at 42 Beauchamp Place, London, SW3 1NX, where a member of our Pearl Team will be happy to guide you though the different hues and help you find the perfect South Sea Pearl to suit you.

South Sea Pearls are mainly 9-16mm in diameter. The Golden South Sea Pearls are created in gold lipped oysters that inhabit the waters of Australia, New Guinea, Philippines, Indonesia and Burma. Unlike mussels that can create around 80 Freshwater Pearls in a lifetime, gold lipped oysters will only make 1 Pearl.

It is remarkable to think that the rich golden colours of these pearls are made entirely by nature.
The necklace on the right is made up of Citrine, Sunstone  and South Sea Pearls. The Citrine stones highlight the richness of the Golden South Sea Pearls, while the Sunstone reflects the soft nature of pearls.

Why only wear Pearls in your ears or around your neck and wrist? How about wearing this fabulous Golden South Sea Pearl statement ring?! With 6 diamonds and a large Citrine stone accompanying the South Sea Pearl, this ring is a fabulous way to pick up on the golden hues in an outfit.

We will be closed for the Easter weekend from Friday 29th March till Tuesday 2nd April when we will resume our normal opening hours of 11am – 7pm, Monday to Saturday.

Whatever you choose this coming Easter weekend, be it a Chocolate egg or a Golden egg we hope you thoroughly enjoy yourself!

A Spring in your step!

Spring looks like it might finally be here, but is your wardrobe ready?! How about adding some colour to your clothes with Coleman Douglas Pearls jewellery?!
Our NEW bright Easter window, shown above, has just been installed showing some of our eye-catching pearls perfect for everyone. With a multitude of different colours and textures alongside the pearls , our necklaces , bracelets and earrings are a must have for your pearl ewellery collection!

‘I feel undressed if I don’t have my pearls on. My pearls are my security blanket.’ – Lady Sarah Churchill.

If you, like Lady Churchill, feel the need for pearls, then you are not alone!
Pop into our Pearl Showroom situated at 42 Beauchamp Place, London, where you can feast your eyes on thousands of stunning lustrous pearls.

Fancy stepping out in show-stopping pearls?
How about this fun pearl, cornelian and garnet lariat.
The freshwater pearls add structure, giving you a multitude of different ways to wear it, allowing you to be inventive with your look.

If you already have a statement pearl necklace then how about investing in a dramatic pearl bracelet?!
This bracelet is made up of black freshwater pearls , amethyst and rock crystals.
The blues, purples and reds were inspired by the soft calm colours of a Japanese garden, while the multiple contrasting textures used add life and excitement.

Prefer earrings?
These fabulous sterling silver hoop earrings with detachable semi-precious stone and freshwater pearl drops, give you 8 different looks for the price of 1!
Although these earrings look heavy they are in fact extremely light, enabling the the drops to delicately tremble as you move.

If you would like to see more pearl designs check out our website or come over to our Pearl Showroom, situated at 42 Beauchamp Place, London, SW3 1NX.