LA BRANCHE 2164

Freshwater pearls originally come from oysters that live in seawater. However, other molluscs living in rivers or lakes can also produce pearls. Freshwater pearl-producing mussels are also found in Asia, specifically in Japan and China. Freshwater pearls have been cultivated in China for centuries. Ancient manuscripts show that pearl cultivation was a common practice in the country in the 13th century.

Red coral has its source in the sea. It is a semi-precious marine stone found in clear, warm, calm waters. Marine animals deposit a calcareous substance on its walls, giving it its rigidity and beautiful orange-red colour. Each additional deposit allows it to grow even larger. This is how coral trees are formed, with their many branches. There are different types of coral, with different shades depending on where they come from: red from Japan or red from the Mediterranean.
Now for a bit of history. Traces of coral have been found in tombs dating back to the Neolithic period. So this stone has been used for many years. Indeed, people were fascinated by its colour in ancient times. They attributed a magical power to it: that of healing. Even back then, it was used to make jewellery, medicines and amulets.