Necklace Tahiti cultured pearl

From French Polynesia come the Tahiti cultured pearls for this necklace. They are created in the "Te ufi" as the black-lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera cumingii) is called there. The mother-of-pearl of the "Te ufi" is silver-grey at the shell, towards the edge anthracite, sometimes up to smokebraun and black. Typical for the single, large pearls of about 10 mm diameter is a distinct iridescent play of colors, which can show overcolors in shades of green and pink depending on the incidence and intensity of light. A delicately turned out stainless steel hoop is tuned with 42 cm length so that the pearl comes to rest in the small depression between the collarbones, the so-called thrush pit. Due to the restrained design of the hoop, the single Tahitian pearl seems to float there almost freely on the skin. Reliably and inconspicuously, a particularly finely crafted bayonet clasp locks the hoop.

When Gisela and Detlef Menard founded their own company in 1981, the focus was still on the sale of antique-style jewelry. It has long since become an established family business that stands for timeless design and high quality. To achieve this, Ménard harmoniously combined aspects of craftsmanship, function and design. The clasps on the necklaces and bracelets, for example, are not just a necessary constructive evil, but in their simple yet effective design are sometimes pieces of jewelry in their own right. No wonder Ménard has protected them under design law. The necklaces and bracelets made from the colorful Murano glass beads, which come from the lagoon island near Venice, famous for its glass art, are almost a trademark. And of course Ménard also uses classic jewelry materials such as pearls.

Due to the high working and social standards, short transport routes and technical expertise, Ménard relies largely on Germany as a location: the silver clasps, for example, come from the gold town of Pforzheim, stones and chains from the gemstone town of Idar-Oberstein. It is worth noting that Ménard works specifically with refineries that only use recycled silver and gold for its precious metals.