DILLON PEARL SHOWCASES THE BEST IN FASHIONABLE GIFTS FROM THE SEAInnovative Wholesaler Offers Quality, Variety and Value in Magnificent Pearl Jewelry
Precious, lustrous, pure and magnificent! For thousands of years pearls have been prized for
their unique beauty and have captured the imagination of fair maidens and warriors of yore,
generations of fashionable women, as well as followers of today’s cutting-edge contemporary fashions.
Ancient Greek brides wore pearls on their wedding days, believing the gems would promote marital bliss.During the crusades, brave knights marched into battle emblazoned with pearls as a protector
against harm and misfortune. A single strand of these lustrous gifts from the sea can transform even the
most simple dress into special, memorable fashion statement. Perhaps pearls have long been a
classic fashion accessory because their soft, warm glow helps the beauty of every woman shine.
“Today, look for pearls in unusual colors, sizes and shapes—as the focal point of a beautiful
brooch featuring a thoroughly modern design, in earrings surrounded by gleaming diamonds and
suspended from ribbons of white gold, clustered by the dozen in a fun fifties-inspired brooch with a sea
foam motif,” says David Dillon, president of Dillon Pearl Corp., an innovative young wholesaler
specializing in the handsome gems.
He adds that today pearls are enjoying burgeoning popularity. In fact, almost 89 percent of
retailers reported an increase in pearl sales this year over last year, according to the Cultured Pearl
Information Center in New York. The average jump was 18 percent, with retailers crediting heavy national
pearl promotion for the gain. “And while a classic strand of pearls will continue to be a fashion staple,
think of pearls in innovative ways—as the shining stars of a whole new breed of
fashion accessories,” David Dillon adds.
Dillon should know because his company offers a large selection of unusual, beautiful and
creative jewelry. A host of well-known and up-and-coming jewelry designers utilize his shop for its well-
stocked drawers of carefully matched strands and special one-of-a kind gems to design their
own magnificent creations.
“To many people,” notes Dillon, “traditional, beautiful Japanese
Akoya pearls are synonymous with the highly prized fashion item. However, today South Sea pearls—which are significantly larger and more varied in shape—are inspiring a stunning array of new concepts in pearl jewelry. Especially popular are striking
large silvery black Tahitian pearls, which are being grown in greater number, promoted with new
enthusiasm and playing a major role in contemporary fashion. Designers also are taking innovative
directions with Akoya pearls.
A look at the precious cache offered by Dillon Pearl offers a glimpse at the best of the new pearl fashion scene. Extremely popular are beautiful pendants featuring large opulent South Sea pearls—including
white and Tahitian black. Settings range from simple diamond cups and floral inspired designs
too ornate art deco styles.
Also look for an inspired array of pearl rings, again featuring South Sea pearls in both white
and black and accented with diamonds or other attractive gemstones. “Often, the overall
design is simple and elegant to showcase the natural good looks and quality of the pearls,” notes Dillon.
Extremely popular this year are earrings in all manner of shapes, colors and sizes. Dillon Pearl’
s opulent hanging earnings include a wide range of selections, such as lustrous
pearls suspended from diamond-encrusted hearts, chains and spheres. Also look for South Sea studs ranging from jumbo white pearls accented with diamonds and other
precious gems to simple, tailored styles surrounded with yellow and white gold. Styling runs
the gamut from spectacular special occasion jewelry to handsome choices for everyday wear.
Other earrings include large striking
Mobe pearl designs as well as simple
Akoya studs. Another Dillon Pearl specialty is single and multi-strand
Akoya and South Sea pearl necklaces,
which can be personalized with the attractive clasps of your choice. In fact, Dillon notes that the
company carries many fashion clasps that are so uniquely handsome they become the focal point of the
jewelry itself. Also adding interest to strands are accents of precious and semi-precious gemstones—used as spacers or suspended as drops to add color and dazzle. Pearl bracelets, also enjoying
great popularity, feature similar styling.
“All our pearl strands are carefully matched for size, color and overall quality,” notes Dillon. “
BlackTahitian pearl strands are particularly striking.”
VARIETIES OF CULTURED PEARLSTraditionally grown in Japan,
Akoya pearls are pure white, lustrous pearls generally ranging in
size from 3 to 8 mm. These are extremely popular in the U.S. and large percentages are strung
into simple strand jewelry. Today, these pearls also are grown in China.
White South Sea pearls are cultivated in Australia and Indonesia in tropical oysters. They range
in size from 10 to 20 mm and command premium prices. Black South Sea pearls are grown in
large oysters native to French Polynesia. Available in a range of dark, silvery colors, they
are extremely beautiful and priced accordingly.
Freshwater pearls, which are grown around the world, exhibit less luster than salt-water varieties
and are available in a range of unique free-form shapes. They are significantly more affordable
than salt water pearls.
Mobe pearls are hemispherical selections grown against the shell of oysters to create their flat back.These are generally used in earrings and rings.
Today, virtually all pearls are cultured—cultivated through natural processes with the aid of man.Natural pearls occurring with no human assistance are extremely rare. The culturing process
involves surgically implanting a small polished shell bead and mantle tissue in each oyster. The
oyster responds by secreting layers nacre, a crystalline substance that becomes the pearl. During
this process, the oysters are returned to the sea and carefully cared for until the growing process is complete.
JUDGING PEARLS“When judging quality in pearls, consider luster, color, color overtone, surface condition, shape and size,”says Dillon. “Luster, perhaps the most important consideration, is the glow of light reflecting back
through the layers of the pearl nacre. Body color is the actual pearl color, while color overtone is simply a
rose or greenish cast.”
Select pearls with smooth surface conditions, avoiding cracks, blemishes and pits. Bear in mind, however,that all pearls have minor imperfections. The best pearls are perfectly round. Larger pearls
generally command higher price. However, the pearl’s luster and thickness of the nacre also are key.
David Dillon is extremely knowledgeable about pearl quality and artistry, having grown up in the
pearl business. For the past fifteen years, his parents have owned a thriving pearl wholesale and retail business.Dillon and his mother travel to the pearl-growing capitals of the world—including Japan, Australia
and Tahiti—to select only the highest quality merchandise for Dillon Pearl Corp. Since the successful
young wholesaler opened his doors in 1996, business has almost quadrupled, as the
company gained a reputation for offering a unique combination of high-quality, variety and reasonable price.
Dillon Pearl is located at 20 West 47
th Street, suite 20R, New York, in the heart of Manhattan’s
jewelry district. To learn more about pearls in general and the Dillon Pearl line, in particular, visit their website at
www.dillonpearl.com(888) 869-6831
Cordially,
Jeanne Marie Phillips
Marketing Director, Dillon Pearl Corp.
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