Israeli pearl necklace said to be worth some $1.3 million (illustration)
Photo: CD Bank
An Israeli couple who owns what is believed to be the most expensive pearl necklace in the world, worth some $1.3 million, received an unusual offer recently:
The government of Qatar invited the two to sell their piece of jewelry in Bahrain to Saudi clients who have expressed an interest in it.
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The necklace belongs to Orna & Isaac Levy, the owners of the Yvel company which specializes in creating exquisite jewelry featuring pearls. They say the necklace is made of 26-year-old 20-28 millimeter pearls grown in huge shells in the ocean.
The couple began collecting the precious pearls 11 years ago, and only recently completed the necklace.
The Levys plan to accept the Qatari government's invitation, but before that they will be travelling to the Philippines, where they will present the expensive necklace to one of Southeast Asia's royal families.