Sourcing

Tara Pearls Is Ready to Unveil Its ‘Most Significant Acquisition’

SourcingJan 20, 2022

Tara Pearls Is Ready to Unveil Its ‘Most Significant Acquisition’

With a retail price tag of $1 million, the special pearl will be unveiled at the upcoming Centurion show.

20220120_Melo-melo-pearl.jpg
This melo melo pearl, set to be unveiled at the Tara booth at the upcoming Centurion trade show, has a $1 million retail price tag.
New York City—A few years ago, high-end pearl brand Tara made the most significant acquisition in the company’s history, and now it’s ready to unveil that piece. 
 
Tara CEO Sonny Sethi purchased a natural melo melo pearl, weighing 183.22 carats and measuring 29 mm in size. 
 
Melo melo pearls are produced by the melo gastropod genus of sea snails. They are non-nacreous, composed instead of calcite and aragonite, which gives them a smooth porcelain luster and sometimes a flame pattern across the surface. 
 
Tara said they believe this specimen originated in Vietnam. 
 
GIA examined the melo melo pearl, calling it noteworthy because of the rarity in finding a natural pearl of such size and round shape while also exhibiting a defined flame pattern. 
 
It also found its color to be a result of the host mollusk and not of any treatment. 
 
Finally, GIA found it to be “relatively free of blemishes and has no signs of any surface alterations.” It’s also one of the largest pearls it has ever tested. 
 
Tara’s Sethi said, “Finding this pearl was like winning the mega millions. This is the most expensive single pearl we ever acquired in our career.” 
 
It has a retail price tag of $1 million. 
 
The company will unveil the pearl at the upcoming Centurion Jewelry Show, slated for Jan. 29-Feb. 2 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. 
 
To make an appointment to see the pearl in person, email renee@tarapearls.com or sonny@tarapearls.com.

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