How a $35 set of Fake Pearls Generated Tons of Profit

Thomas Woodham-Smith, co-founder of the Treasure House Fair that is taking place this week in the grounds of Royal Hospital Chelsea tomorrow, recently related a story about a necklace of fake pearls that was sold at Sotheby’s, New York, in 1996 for $212,000, a 6,000% increase on the $35 paid at Bergdorf Goodman in the 1950s.

Better still, the necklace was later copied 130,000 times, grossing the owners a total of $26 million, and it is now stashed away in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington.

The reason for its mesmeric appeal? It formerly belonged to Jackie Kennedy.

Source: https://www.countrylife.co.uk/luxury/style/how-a-25-set-of-fake-pearls-made-150k-at-auction-and-were-a-bargain-at-the-price-257227

I had just read about this incredible purchase, profit maker and donation in Lynda Resnick's, (the lady who bought them at auction) book Rubies in the Orchard.

Lynda is an advertising genius and much can be learned from her book both about advertising and pomegranates! Kari