The Pearl

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful illustrations with historical context
Review: A gorgeous volume with neat historial and social notes. While some selections were a little on the bizarre side, this book gives a good foundation for the role this gem played for so many centuries. It is clearly a coffee table book, but delightfully delves into more substance than other books on the subject. At worst, it is a little thin on giving a full spectrum of cultures. At best, it is eye candy for many years to come.

Rating:
Summary: Fine Art
Review: This book is absolutely beautiful. If pearls have a place in your heart, look no further. The book, especially for its price, is absolutely sumptious, from cover to cover.
The design: classic.
The art: thought-provoking, varied, and delicious.
The text: interesting, relevant.
And last but not least...
THE PEARLS: perfect.

Pearls deserve the royal treatment, and this book delivers unlike any other.