Long known as the Queen of Gems, pearls possess a history, allure and value far beyond what we recognized today. Throughout much of recorded history, a natural, matched pearl necklace was a treasure of almost incomparable value, in fact the most expensive jewelry in the world. Now pearls are seen almost as accessories, decorations to accompany more costly gemstones.

Pearls played the pivotal role at the most celebrated banquet in literature. In order to convince Rome that Egypt possessed a heritage and wealth that put it above conquest, Cleopatra wagered Marc Antony she could give the most expensive dinner in history. As the queen sat with an empty plate and a goblet of wine (or vinegar), he reclined in the customary Roman manner. Cleopatra crushed one large pearl from a pair of earrings, stirred it in the liquid, then drank it down. Astonished, Antony declined his dinner of the matching pearl and admitted she had won. Pliny, the world's first gemologist, writes in his famous Natural History that the two pearls were worth an estimated 60 million sesterces, or approximately 1,929,000 troy ounces of fine silver. Today, that would be somewhere in the order of $96M, assuming silver at $50 per ounce. Quite the dinner indeed.

Come browse through what we think Cleopatra would have liked to have had in her jewel box.