Pearl jewelry is considered by many to be something of a classic—so much so that at one time, a strand of pearls was the quintessential everyday piece of jewelry for many middle class American women.

Marie Antoinette's pearl was part of a diamond-studded pendant, and it has important historical significance, which increased its value. But there are several other factors that determine the ...

With two strings of 55 and 73 perfect pearls, it was worth more than a million dollars (around $24 million in today's money) and became an overnight sensation. Many admirers traveled to see it in ...