Pearls steal the spotlight

As a pearl aficionado, I've been thrilled to spot my favorite gem appearing in a major way on some of the most influential women in the U.S., from fashion and popular culture to politics.
Stylist Patricia Field chose a classic beauty for Carrie Bradshaw to wear as her signature staple in the Sex and the City movie: an opera-length Mikimoto 8-8.5mm Akoya strand.

It's perfection -- a strand that can be worn with virtually everything in a woman's wardrobe.
In some scenes, like the one pictured above, Carrie pairs her pearls with rhinestones, a Fall trend that includes the bold vintage looks which can be viewed in full force on the ladies of "Mad Men."

In other early 1960's style channeling, presidential candidates' wives Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain can be seen in dresses & pearls reminiscent of Jackie Kennedy. Good call!
Jackie's famous Kenneth Jay Lane faux three-strand became such a part of her iconic image as First Lady, it inspired precise replicas by the Franklin Mint and Carolee. QVC also offers a version, as well as a selection of necklaces from Kenneth Jay Lane.

Barbara Bush, though no longer in the spotlight, is rarely seen without her signature pearls...

...and Hillary Clinton has been wearing the same 16-inch strand for the past several years, which indicates to me that it's probably made of genuine South Sea pearls.

South Sea pearls are prized for their large size, however, they never achieve the mirror-like luster of the Japanese akoyas, like Carrie's Mikimotos. Conversely, the akoyas rarely grow past 10 mm in size, so there is an exponential price jump reflecting the scarcity starting at the 9mm size.
I may not share the same political ideology as U.S. House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, but I must say I applaud her stylish strand of 11-14mm multi-colored Tahitian pearls (as well as her Hermes scarf-as-hijab worn during a visit to Syria).

Pelosi's necklace made such an impression on American women last year, it drove up pearl sales and prompted Los Angeles pearl dealer Leon Rebibo, of The Pearl Source, to offer a "Nancy Pelosi necklace."
Last night, when Sarah Palin spoke at the Republican National Convention as the party's vice presidential nominee, she donned a golden South Sea pearl necklace for the occasion. Very pretty.

Yet, while all eyes were on Palin, mine were on the gorgeous, massive strand of Tahitian pearls draped around the neck of Rudy Giuliani's wife, Judi. No wonder she was smiling.
As the election season promises to drive me nuts in the weeks to come, I'll be looking at the various pearls on display to serve as a beautiful distraction from all the hot air.