Galetea Mercy Pearl Collection

About Mercy Pearl Collection

The most outstanding addition to the gem world was premiered at JCK Las Vegas 2007. The Mercy Pearl is a black pearl that is carved exposing the pearl's nucleus. The surprise is that the nucleus is NOT Mother-of-Pearl.

Several years ago, while Chi was carving a Tahitian pearl, he accidentally carved too deeply, exposing the white Mother-of-Pearl bead beneath the black nacre. Lamenting over the fact that he had just ruined a perfectly fine Tahitian pearl, he suddenly got this idea that he could insert gemstone beads into a black lipped oyster, creating a pearl that would be carved down to the nucleus, exposing the gem beneath the nacre.
 
Chi took that idea to Tahitian pearl farmers who told him that this kind of pearl could not be grown in the French Polynesian Islands. Undaunted by this turn of events, he took the black lipped oyster to waters off the shores of Vietnam. After persuading experts in implantation that his idea could actually work, he attempted to grow black pearls using citrine, amethyst, and turquoise bead nuclei. Three years later, Chi harvested beautiful AAA quality Tahitian-like (now Vietnamese) black pearls. While it was always his intent to carve these pearls down to expose the gemstone nucleus, he started to question his sanity of carving these beautiful pearls. But carve them he did, and the transformation is remarkable. Carved black pearl nacre over citrine, amethyst, and turquoise nuclei. Galatea has stunned the pearl world.

To Order Call K.Hollis Jewelers at (630) 879-8003

About Galatea

My father was a talented and widely respected jeweler. In the old days, in my home country, it was considered a great privilege and honor to apprentice with him. One was more than willing to tolerate the six months or so spent cleaning the shop, polishing and making jump-rings, only to "progress" to spending day after day making simple wedding bands just to be asked to melt them down and start over because they weren't round enough! The great mystery of why he was so hard on us was finally revealed to me the day he said "If you want to be a good jeweler it takes skill and repetition. To be a 'great jeweler' also requires patience, dedication, courage, and a

special love for your trade. Having these qualities makes you worthy to work in my shop." Today at Galatea we have more than jewelers, we have an Olympic team of jewelers all of whom share this philosophy and love for our trade. We create each piece as if to be worn by our own beloved.

Inspiration comes from nature. I toss a pebble into a pond and watch the ripples gently and pleasantly hypnotize me for hours. I pick up a shell and watch the spiral design travel into my eyes. I watch a child hold a flower innocently in her hands as she watches a butterfly dance in the garden. At these moments nature shares and reveals to us the secret of natural beauty. To me, art is like music, the musician understands key, melody, composition, etc. This enables him to create music rather than noise. Likewise, I have come to understand line, light, shape, color, texture, and the mystic harmony of their relationship in creating music for the eyes. I believe natural beauty is not just based on culture, intellect, or the conditions of life alone. Universal beauty does exist and you can find it in your smile.

Craftsmanship
Each design is hand sketched, sculpted, detailed and finished to the highest standard of an old world Artisan, combined with new inventive techniques developed at Galatea.

Metal
We formulate our metal to ensure its purity. All jewelry designs are available in 14 karat yellow or white gold . 18 karat and Platinum are available for The Yes Collection only.

Philosophy
See the leaves on the vines
Seasons changes like life
What is truth and pure
Will endure the test of time.
Galatea carefully chooses is authorized retailers, based in part on their location and clientele. We expect our authorized retailers to use their best efforts to preserve and enhance the image of our originality, artistry and the good will associated with our name and philosophy. “GALATEA” was a statue that came to life, which arrived from Greek Mythology. As an artist, I want my work to come to life.