Her earrings weren’t the only standout jewelry moment of the evening—there was also Lady Gaga’s necklace, a never-before-seen piece from the Tiffany & Co. archives; Charlotte Lawrence and ...

That estimate doesn’t include the time it would have taken to collect the scallop-like shells from the seashore. “We think the beads formed ceremonial clothing that was worn by these women ...

The cowrie shell has also found its way into fine jewelry by Black American designers. Fine jewelry designer Catherine Sarr’s Almasika, a luxury line of 18-karat gold and diamonds, debuted in 2014 ...