April 2001 For Your Staff/Selling Jewelry Styles Four Classic Options for Pearls This is the 14th in a series of articles Professional Jeweler is presenting on different styles of jewelry. Learning about different styles, selling points and where they come from can make your job more interesting and profitable Cultured pearl-intensive jewelry can be much more than simple strands of similarly sized pearls. If your customer wants pearl jewelry but prefers something more creative, suggest one of these options. (See Professional Jeweler, February 2001, p. 157, for information on different lengths of pearl strands.) Bib A necklace of three or more concentric strands where the lowest strand does not fall below a matinee length (20-26 inches). Torsade A multistrand necklace formed by twisting strands around each other. This is a popular way to wear freshwater pearl strands. Graduated Strand A strand in which the pearls gradually get larger toward the center. Graduated strands provide a pearl-intensive look at a lower price than strands of uniformly sized pearls. Dog Collar A flexible multistrand choker worn snugly around the throat. The strands may be gathered at a single clasp. This general style originated in the 16th century and gained popularity in the Victorian era in the form of a wide ribbon adorned with a cameo or gemstone. Around 1880, it took the form of multiple strands of uniform pearls. It wasn’t unusual to see dog collars with up to 12 strands. – by Lorraine M. O’Donnell, A.J.P. Photo illustration/Steve Lefkowitz