It all started with a pearl necklace that my Dad gave me when I was 8 years old.
The Beginning
Sure, some might say it all began when I started traveling is 2006, buying and selling pearls. Others might say my journey began when I got my degree in pearls, when I opened my brick and mortar store. Die hard Southerners might say that my journey did not begin until I was featuring in Southern Living Magazine! But, the true passion, the spark deep inside me began many years earlier.
The Legacy of Pearls
You see, there is something about traveling that ignites me. I feel so free, and so at one with the world when I am traveling and connecting with new people and new places. So, this trip to Japan in 1984 was where so much began for me. I was seeing a world I did not even imagine existed and I received this most amazing gift from my father. It was connection, true and deep. And do you know what I did with this small strand of akoya pearls? I wore it to every special event in my entire life. And I still have those pearls to this day; I cannot wait for the day I get to pass them on to my loved ones.
You will rarely find me in a special event photo without these pearls on! My passion for pearls is held in this very first necklace of mine. Why? Because pearls are a legacy.
My Last Strand of Pearls
My first pearl necklace was so special and I thought pearls were so out of reach, that it would be my last.
Fast forward to 2006. On a trip through Asia I discovered gorgeous pearls in China, Vietnam, Hong Kong and beyond. These gems were high quality but competitively priced! And the dream of The Pearl Girls began….
I started by mailing pearls to my sister who owned an art gallery in Augusta, Georgia. She sold 100 pearl necklaces and had immediate requests for more. I knew other women were on board. They saw the value in what I was offering…. a valuable luxury that makes us feel good, look good and one that connects us to the ones we love.
Back to School
I embarked on a lifelong study of these gems I love so much. I have my Graduate Pearls Diploma and Certificate in Pearl Grading from the Gemological Institute of America. I have studied pearls extensively and travel far and wide each year to tour pearl farms (I like to see the quality, working conditions and commitment to sustainability, firsthand!), meet suppliers, make new connections and continue learning more about the magic and beauty of pearls. With each day that passes, my passion and knowledge grow. Pssst… You can join me on one of my trips! Click here…
And, as for The Pearl Girls pearls? Well, I believe they are more than just pearls.
They’re life, love and the promise of what’s to come – all strung together as one.
One moment in time…one adventure to be had…one future for the taking.
Thank you for believing what we do and for choosing to be a Pearl Girl. I believe so strongly that everyone should own a piece of The Pearl Girls jewelry. And I am just as passionate about pearls as I was when I was just 8 years old!
Love,
India Rows
I am a modern day treasure hunter who travels the world for gorgeous pearls and amazing adventures. I own a pearl jewelry and jewelry repair business, ThePearlGirls.com, with a cute retail store in Athens, GA. I also have a Pearl Travel business and travel blog at TheWorldofPearl.com.
