Pearls and jewellery

The jeweller’s shops in Mallorca are famous because behind every piece there is the professional work done in the workshop and fairs and the determination to bring out the best of each piece in order to offer what the customer wants. The first artificial pearl factory was founded by the German industrialist Eduard Frederic Hug Heusch in 1897 in Manacor (Mallorca). Nowadays, people visit Manacor to learn more about the pearl-making process applied in several factories of the city. Manacor pearls are sold around the world. They compete in many international markets. Even though you can see whole manufacturing process, the formula remains a well-kept secret.
The perfect pearl is not attained by chance. Years of research and development and many hours of craftmanship have been the major contributing factors to the international reputation of Mallorcan pearls.

The first step in making a pearl is to prepare the nucleus. In a process similar to that of the oyster, the nucleus is covered layer by layer with a substance derived from marine organic elements. This gives the pearl its exceptional sparkle and magnificent iridescence. The development of the pearl in the oyster is logically uncontrollable and often irregular. On the other hand, cultured pearls are made in factories under rigorous and scientific supervision. This is how the perfect pearl is created. It is a pearl that is renowned across the world.

Additionally, pearls can be bought separately or even set in rings and exotic sets of jewellery, in combination with other precious stones, in the factories and the jeweller’s shops found all over the island. They offer original, fresh collections, ranging from the classic pearl necklace to articles for young people or accessories for those who want to personalize their elegance. The catalogue of Mallorcan pearls and jewels features around 10,000 different pearl sets and other jewels. Peals still preserve their characteristic style and elegance.

Mallorcan jewellery is sold in a wide range of shops and workshops. There you can buy gold and silver jewels that are typical of Mallorca, like the “cordón mallorquín”. It is a thick silver or gold chain with a twisted shape and a Mallorcan cross (a Greek cross inside a rhombus) hanging from it. You can buy the set as a necklace or bracelet.

“Semanario” rings are typical Mallorcan jewels that are traditionally given by godmothers to their goddaughters. They give them seven rings, one for each day of the week (“semanario” comes from “semana”, which means week in Spanish). The beauty of the piece resides in the simplicity of the gold and silver rings. If you want to see traditional Mallorcan jewellery, just go for a walk around the shops located in the old Jewish quarters of Palma. In the past the area earned its living from making and trading jewels. Some of Palma’s jeweller’s shops are more than a century old. As well as working with the most prestigious brands, they have become famous for their designs and for maintaining the essence of the family business.