Despite the global pearling slump, declining South Sea pearl harvests and the scarcity of consumers willing to spend on true luxuries, Kailis has finished one of the finest strands of South Sea pearls ever created.The Versatility Strand Necklace is purported to have taken five years of pearl gathering, from 25 separate harvests, from five different farms. Whilst no size details are disclosed on PerthNow.com.au, the 58 pearls wrapped twice appear to range 15 mm and likely above.
“When you’re working with something so special you really want to make it
just right,” says Henderson.
Later, when the piece has been completed, he describes his reaction on
picking it up for the first time: “It was one of those eureka moments. It
brought a tear to my eye, because you don’t see such things very often.”
Expressions of interest for the necklace have already been received in
the region of $800,000, but it could go for much higher than that. “Because of
the rarity of these pearls, the market will ultimately dictate the price,” says
Kailis’ general manager Sonia Mackay-Coghill.
Whilst a strand like this is not the most expensive, flamboyant strand created with Australian pearls, it is a promising sign that confidence is slowly returning to our beleaguered industry.
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