Throughout most of this century, the Japanese dominated the cultured-pearl industry. The Chinese were the first to culture a product from freshwater mussels, though their centuries-old Buddhas are ...

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“These earrings consist of a large diamond stud supporting a trio of smaller diamonds with a single pearl drop, creating a sophisticated yet subtle design. “By wearing these earrings, Kate aim ...

The largest Scottish freshwater pearl found in living memory is being auctioned, nearly six decades after its discovery. The Abernethy Pearl is expected to fetch between £40,000 and £60,000 when ...

About 200 years ago pearl mussels were harvested for, as the name suggests, pearls. However, the name can mislead - only about one per cent of them contain this hidden 'treasure' (and most of ...

This fictitious backstory to the creation of Vermeer's best-known painting looks so impressive, and so precisely mimics the colours the 17th-century Dutchman used, it's a while before you realise ...

Helen Gent’s daughter Lucille, 14, was wearing “tiny” stud earrings to when she returned to Magnus Church of England Academy in England after school holidays, SWNS reports. But the Year 10 ...

They discovered that the real paintings, which included The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, had much more ...

You have to love her whether you want to or not.' 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' was painted by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer in ...

A new colony of endangered freshwater pearl mussels has been discovered in north Highland. The rare species was uncovered during a watercourse survey being carried out before culvert replacement work.

Johannes Vermeer's Girl With The Pearl Earring is one of the world's most popular paintings - and now scientists believe they know why, by measuring how the brain reacts when the work is viewed.

Griet comes to Vermeer's home as an illiterate servant but her duties take her to the Master's studio. Here she shows an instinctive affinity with the artistic process. (2003) Watch all your favourite ...