Pearl Jewelry: Historic 5-Ft Wide, 3-Ft Tall ‘Pearl Capitol’ With 200,000 Akoya Pearls ‘Worth Millions,’ On Its Way To Houston
\nEmediawire (press release), WA<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pearl Jewelry goes patriotic — A 5-ft. wide, 3 ft.tall replica of the nation’s most famous federal building has been “re-built” with more than 200,000 rare cultured pearls said to be equivalent to 4,000 pearl necklaces — “and it’s a feast for the eyes”, says Houston-area jeweler Norman Hargrave.<\/p>\n
Baytown, TX (PRWEB) June 1, 2006 — An imposing 5-ft. wide, 3-ft tall replica of the U.S. Capitol handmade from more than 200,000 Akoya pearls and said to be the equivalent of 4,000 pearl necklaces \u00e2\u20ac\u0153worth millions,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is coming soon to a small Texas jewelry store with large connections in the pearl world.<\/p>\n
The \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pearl Capitol,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d owned by Rhode Island-based Imperial Pearl Company will reside June 13-17 in the showroom of Robson Jewelers during a promotional event sponsored by the 80-year-old family-owned store. Imperial Pearl president Peter Bazar says this is the first time the rose-lustered pearl Capitol has been displayed outside of Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
Until nine months ago, the built-to-scale model of the nation\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s most famous federal building was on display for 42 years in the United States Historical Society headquarters in Washington, D.C. Bazar says Imperial Pearl Company presented the unique artifact to the Washington nonprofit organization in 1966. It was commissioned in 1959 by the company\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s previous owner to promote the sagging post-World War II Japanese pearl industry. “It took more than two years for workers from the Oteki Pearl Farm in Kobe, Japan to harvest the pearls,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Bazar.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153When we learned that the Pearl Capitol was going to be auctioned off we knew we had to have it back. Now we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve bought it twice,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he says. The pearls are 3 mm. to 7 mm. in size.<\/p>\n
Akoya pearls are bred in saltwater and known for their high luster, rosy overtones and perfectly round shape.<\/p>\n
Why is the Pearl Capitol coming to the Baytown jewelry store on its maiden showing outside Washington?<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153A lot of people have asked me that question,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Norman Hargrave, the store\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s owner. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They wonder why this beautiful thing isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t going to a much larger jewelry store somewhere. But, Robson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s has a long history with Imperial Pearl,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he says.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153They know us well, and of course there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no doubt about it, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve bought a whole bunch of pearls from them since my grandfather first went into business in 1926. They trust us and we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re honored. This is going to be a fun way to show off our store and also to catch people\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reaction when they see this fabulous exhibit. If you love pearls, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a feast for the eyes. Besides,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Hargrave, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153June is Pearl Month.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Hargrave, who says Robson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s is one of the longest continually-operated jewelry stores in Texas owned by one family, says he will display vintage photos of 1960s-era movie stars and dignitaries viewing the with the Capitol replica.<\/p>\n
Baytown, 30 miles east of downtown Houston with a population of 70,000, is probably best known as the home of the Exxon oil refinery, one of the largest in the world.<\/p>\n
The jewelry store owner says he is spending more than $15,000 in security and insurance to ensure the safety of the Capitol, which is crowned by an American flag made with alternating rows of diamonds, sapphires and rubies. The Capitol model is the centerpiece of the store\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 5-day marketing event. Hargrave says a giant pearl the size of a plum, also on loan from Imperial, is part of the display. There is no charge to attend.<\/p>\n
The Washington historical society had the pearl model appraised in 1988, says Hargrave. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They said it was conservatively worth $640,000. We know that 18 years later it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s priceless.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
To see the Pearl Capitol:
\nJune 13-17
\nRobson Jewelers
\n1120 West Baker Rd.
\nBaytown
\nExhibit opens 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 13th
\nNo charge
\nStore located across from Luby\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Cafeteria
\nFor more information call (281) 427-5700 or visit
\nwww.robsonsjewelers.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pearl Jewelry: Historic 5-Ft Wide, 3-Ft Tall ‘Pearl Capitol’ With 200,000 Akoya Pearls ‘Worth Millions,’ On Its Way To Houston Emediawire (press release), WA Pearl Jewelry goes patriotic — A 5-ft. wide, 3 ft.tall replica of the nation’s most famous federal building has been “re-built” with more than 200,000 rare cultured pearls said to be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[411],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n