Pearls have been worn since time immemorial - Cleopatra is recorded as wearing them in Egypt - but until the last century their rarity meant few women could afford them. The first round cultured pearl was created by a Japanese jeweller in 1883, although it took another 25 years for the cultivation technique to be perfected. Among those who took advantage of this development was an entrepreneur called Michael Goldman who, in 1920, opened his first CIRO shop on London's Old Bond Street. So successful was he that in the run-up to Christmas, a queue of potential customers stretched from the shop to Piccadilly. Since then, the CIRO organisation has continued to expand and is now a global business providing a full range of jewellery. It offers a range of pearls including cultured, freshwater, oyster shell and simulated varieties. The only outlet in Ireland for CIRO is in the jewellery hall of Brown Thomas, Dublin where a full range of the company's products is available. Now you can win your own pieces of CIRO jewellery in our Irish Times competition; there are 10 prizes to be given away, ranging in value from £245 to £60. These are currently on display in Brown Thomas.
All you have to do to enter the competition is answer the three questions here and complete the tie-breaker before sending your entry form(s) by post only to CIRO Pearls Competition, P.O. Box 4601, Dublin 2. Closing date for entries is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3rd next. The winning entries will be notified by Friday, December 12th.
Question 1:
In what year was the first round cultured pearl created?
Question 2:
Which Egyptian queen was recorded as wearing pearls?
Question 3:
Who opened the first CIRO on Old Bond Street in London?
Daytime Telephone Number: -
Complete the Tie-breaker (in not more than 10 words):
I would like to win a gift of CIRO jewellery because
Employees (and their families) of The Irish Times, CIRO Pearls Ltd, Brown Thomas and their agents are not eligible to enter. Cash will not be given in lieu of the prize. The prize is strictly non-transferable. Enter as often as you like, as long as it is on the original entry form. No photocopies allowed. Entries only accepted by post at the above address and not by hand or post at The Irish Times office in D'Olier Street. A full set of written rules is available on written request from the Promotions Department, The Irish Times Ltd, 10-16 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. No further correspondence will be entered into. The judge's decision is final.