Iridesse Pearl-Jewelry Chain Closes

World's second largest (after Geneva based Cie. Financiere Richemont AG) luxury jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co has decided to shut down its Iridesse pearl-jewelry chain after posting disappointing sales figures. The chain was offering cultured pearls within a price range of $100 to $ 50,000.

Whether it is the economic crisis or something else, I felt sad. Pearl has always appealed to me. Unlike diamonds that require painstaking effort like cutting, pearl has a subtle, almost shibumi-like simplicity that translates to beauty. It's maybe because it is nature's own design, with a remarkable journey from deep blue seas to a woman's smooth skin.