Artist

As a child growing up in Genova, Italy, Laura Serrafero loved to draw and dance. She announced to her parents at the age of seven that she was going to be an artist, and has been designing her unique jewelry for almost 20 years.

Based in Toronto, Laura shares a work space and shop with her husband to showcase imported African art as well as Laura's designs. "We were not sure at first how it would be working together... But realized that we really enjoy it!" Laura says. In her time outside of the studio and shop, Laura enjoys the outdoors with her husband and daughter. She also loves Toronto's cultural offerings and can often be found visiting art galleries, museums, or the theater.

About

Pearls have been revered around the world and throughout history as rare, beautiful objects. Part of their allure is the fact that they are created by such an unassuming creature as the mollusk. Clams and mussels are homely individuals, and yet, from within their coarse shells come already-perfect spherical treasures that radiate iridescence. A pearl requires nothing to make it more beautiful—no other precious gemstone in the world has that quality.

An ancient Hindu myth, recorded in the oldest of the Veda texts from 1000 BCE, tells of Krishna being the first to discover a pearl. Krishna is the blue-skinned god considered to be a Supreme Being of Hindi culture. It was the eve of his daughter’s wedding, and wanting only the best gift for Pandaia, he searched the world for something equal to her beauty. He considered giving her a rainbow halo from the Air, or a ruby from the Earth to adorn her forehead. He could have given her a meteor from Fire to light her path, but when Krishna came to the Sea, and reached down into its depths, he came upon the perfect thing. Searching the ocean floor, the god felt something round in shape, with a rough texture and ragged edge – but inside the mussel shell Krishna found the most perfect, most round, most brilliantly lustrous object he had ever seen. It was a pearl, and it was just about as beautiful as Pandaia. The story of Krishna’s gift to his daughter in the Veda was the first written record of the ancient link between pearls and marriage; many still honor this tradition today.

Details

• handmade in Toronto with satin-finish 18k gold and a 5mm white pearl
• 18k gold handmade hooks
• pearl is set into a 7mm diameter flower bud
• TLC for your satin-finish gold and pearl jewelry