Pearls get pride of place at Beijing show

They are dazzling creations of nature that can't be cut or polished. For centuries, royalty and aristocrats have pursued them to demonstrate power and social rank. In modern times, they adorn an extensive population of women as an indication of fashion tastes.

Their symbolic associations vary from East to West, implying either seductiveness or purity, best wishes for a marriage or grief over someone's death.

Pearls, boasting a smooth luster, enjoy a global fascination that transcends time and cultures. But a lot of people know very little about how the beads are formed, fished and farmed, and that they come in a variety of colors and shapes.