I did a bit of jaunting around SF yesterday ( still recovering from a cold/flu bug, but going stir crazy inside) hit a few open houses and an Estate Sale.
The open houses are more out of curiosity than anything else, keeping an eye on SF real-estate prices. Sadly I really liked the first house. The second house we viewed the agent made a comment about the necklace we were wearing (We both had on a single CFWP Fireball). The agent said she had never seen a pearl like that before and wondered if they were South Sea pearls. This prompted a conversation about men wearing pearls. While I have no real opinion on what guys will wear, I told her I like the "Organic" shapes of baroque pearls usually they are less fussy and stuffy like the rounds (No offense intended lol) , and that the luster is often more pronounced on them. I was attracted to the fire ball pearls because they remind me of tadpoles. (which reminds me I need to work on a sketch lol) Anyway we spent more time talking about pearls than we did her trying to "sell" the house. Later she told me it was just too hot to be busting her behind at an open house, everyone is off getting ice-cream she just wanted Ice-cream (Okay so I really like this agent), and I confess that is exactly what we did, don't tell the agent. I love Mitchell's Buko (young coconut) ice-cream. If you are in SF even if its cold out, make a stop by and have a scoop of any of the flavors.
At the Estate sale I met a few interesting characters. One was an older lady and she appeared to be wearing Mabe Pearls (earrings, ring and pendant enhancer). She was really elderly so much so she walked incredibly slow...but by golly was she out there for the deals. I ran into her a couple of times around the house, but we had a bit of a conversation when she found me browsing through a couple of old magazine featuring Princess Diana and Prince Charles wedding. I don't remember what exactly she said to me to start the conversation, but I told her I was only looking at the jewelry not the people, pearls particularly, she asked if I liked pearls? Then noticed the pendant I was wearing, then she showed me her Pearls.
It was charming, she said during the week she probably does not wear much jewelry, but every weekend she likes to go out and make a "scene" (her words) and she always wears pearls. First is breakfast with friends and her volunteer driver, then off to a Farmers market to squeeze the fruit (which made her chuckle for some reason) and then off to the Estate Sales and Garage Sales. Her first "nice" pearl was a necklace her husband bought for her in the early 1950s (or 1940s don't remember exactly) while on a trip overseas (she did not say where). Every birthday, anniversary or special occasion he found a new pearl piece to give her. In her later years she gave them off to Children, grandkids and great grandkids. She said this with a bit of a sad look in her eye, she thought they might not appreciate them as much these days.
She was glad to see a young man appreciate pearls ( I had to chuckle...I am not young nearing my mid 40's, but took the compliment anyway), I told her she absolutely made my day, I asked if I could give her a hug before saying goodbye. I don't know her name and I doubt I will see her again, but it was such a special moment between two strangers, two different generations, two different cultures etc the irony was not lost on me for many reasons.
PS: the only purchase that day was from a friend's shop...stretchy bead garnet bracelet. That I think some of the "Burgundy" tahitian minis I have will pair up nicely.