Scottish Pearl Necklace

by Kathy S. Schultz

Kathy's Scottish Pearl Necklace

Kathy's Scottish Pearl Necklace

I had this necklace made from a Scottish pearl necklace to match a description in a book.


The seller said that both necklaces of Scottish pearls I bought were from about 1935.
I am glad that she could tell me how old they were,
so that I knew I wasn't going to get in trouble
for buying illegal Scottish pearls!


It was important to me that the freshwater pearls
were actually Scottish. To duplicate the description of the necklace in the book, they should probably have been more Baroque than these, but I decided that their being Scottish was more important to me.

This is the description of the necklace the book's heroine received from her husband on her wedding day in Diana Gabaldon's_Outlander_, p191:

...Jamie... drew a short string of white beads from his sporran. He stepped forward and fastened the necklace around my neck. Looking down, I could see it was a string of small baroque pearls, those irregularly shaped productions of freshwater mussels, interspersed with tiny pierced-work gold roundels. Smaller pearls dangled from the gold beads.

There was an artist's conception of this necklace in her
_Outlander Companion_, and this showed the smaller pearls
dangling only at the front, so that is how I had it done.
I didn't copy how it was drawn at the back with gold loops.

I have an eBay search for Scottish pearls,
and over several years these are the only Scottish
freshwater pearl necklaces I have ever seen,
so I was VERY happy to be able to get them!

Besides the Cairncross pin I ordered a year or so ago, on eBay I have gotten a very simple circular Cairncross pin with one pearl and a more elaborate "starburst" pin with very tiny seed pearls. There is a gentleman in England who seems to have more jewelry with Scottish pearls than other eBay sellers.

I have had a lot of fun putting my Scottish pearl necklace together.

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Mar 04, 2019
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Try Cairncross of Perth
by: Kari

Hello,

That's a neat idea. Take a look at Cairncross of Perth, Scotland.

They have a stash of Scottish freshwater pearls that were harvested before the current ban.

I don't know if they sell loose pearls but have a nice selection of jewelry.

Hope that helps.
Kari
Feb 25, 2019
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		looking for a taye pearl to buy
by: Anonymous

Im looking to get one decent scottish pearl to propose to my gf of 5 years. My grandad was from fife, my cousin got my grandmothers ring and my dead mothers were stolen. I want to make a ring thats just as special
Jan 09, 2019
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starstarstarstarstar 		How lovely
by: Anonymous

I am so pleased for you that you found your own Scottish pearls! The necklace is just lovely!
Jun 03, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thanks for photo and story
by: Kari

Hi Kathy,

I know how you have longed for Scottish pearls for many years and I'm glad you've been able to get a couple of Cairncross pins. I enjoyed visiting the Cairncross Jewelry in Perth a few years ago.

You are fortunate to ever locate Scottish pearls! And since you've waited so long and had such a desire, I'm glad you were granted your wish.

Your necklace is lovely and what a fun idea to create it from a description in a book.

Thank you, Kathy! I'm glad to see the finished product and hear about your search.

God bless!

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