No dear Lucas, I'm sure you are not the only one wearing oldfashioned brooches to convert them into locks for necklaces. I have not convert mine but have worn brooches as centres or sides of necklaces several times . Last time I done it was at a cousin's wedding, I wore a set of classical old silver earrings from my mother and a matching brooch. I placed the brooch on the center of my four row pearl choker, It looked lovely and stylish . Your girlfriend must be happy to have such a versatile collection of classical locks to wear.
--Previous Message-- : Thank you Cristina for the name of those : little balls; Contas de Viana, I never knew! : I have another remark about the several : chokers and necklaces in pearls. I am pretty : sure that I cannot be the only one who uses : oldfashioned brooches to convert them into : locks for necklaces. Exactly in Portugal : this is reasonably cheap to arrange and it : can give a spectacular effect. For my : girlfriend at the time I had all the : neckbrooches (the ones one wore in the 19th : cent. on a velvet band) converted and now : she can were the same pearls, with different : locks, for any kind of occasion, be it : daywear or gala. : : --Previous Message-- : I think they are golden pearls. The Contas : de : Viana (the traditional portuguese gold : jewelry balls from Minho - Viana do Castelo) : have distintive patterns on the surface of : the gold balls. : : I enlarged Jorge's pic and the golden balls : seem to have a completely smooth surface : : : : The Contas de Viana look very diferent, and : the shade of the gold colour is also : diferent : : : : The pic is from this site (filled with : traditional portuguese filigrana gold : jewelry) : : : http://www.catarinajoias.com/index2.php?num=7&num1=100 : : Dona Isabel has in fact several pieces of : traditional portuguese gold jewelry, but : since this thread is on pearls I will post : them in a future discussion . : : As to the golden pearls I've googled a bit : and found there's only one producer in the : world, in Philipines (I was unknware of : this)!! : : This is the company's site : : http://thepearl.jewelmer.com/ : : : : : : --Previous Message-- : Jorge, don't you think that in the last : photo : the Duchess is wearing a necklace of the so : very Portuguese little gold balls? : : --Previous Message-- : How could I forget the last time HRH used : pearls at a grand event? : : At the hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg: : : : : And what I believe to be another pearl : necklace: : : : : : : : : : :