Gretchen Barretto has recently been named pearl ambassadress of the international luxury brand Jewelmer, which is known for its lustrous, golden South Sea pearls.
On January 7, 2022, Gretchen revealed in a video posted on her Instagram account that she received a plaque signed by Jewelmer owners Jacques Branellec and Manuel Cojuangco themselves.
Manuel is the cousin of Ramon Uychuico Cojuangco Sr., the father of Gretchen's long-time partner Tonyboy Cojuangco.
The recognition was presented to her after she bought from the brand her new princess-style pearl necklaces and a pair of golden South Sea pearl earrings.
She exclaimed in the video after the plaque was presented to her, "Oh, wow! What is my special talent to deserve the plaque?"
In the caption of her post, Gretchen wrote, "@jewelmer @jacquesjewelmer [emoji] Endless gratitude [emoji] my love affair with the golden southsea pearl lives on [emoji]"
Gretchen also received a special gift from the brand.
Gretchen also thanked Tonyboy in her caption, "thank you Dada for giving in to my [emoji] for anything @jewelmer [emoji] PEARL AMBASSADOR [emoji]"
This wasn't the first time that the 51-year-old actress received a plaque from Jewelmer. She was also named a pearl ambassador of the brand in 2017.
Jewelmer has been tapping personalities as "pearl ambassadors" to help spread the word about protecting and preserving the Philippine seas, especially those in Palawan where the brand's South Sea pearl farm is located.
Gretchen has been dubbed by netizens as the "pearl queen" for wearing layers and layers of pearls in various shapes, colors, and sizes.
She usually wears at least two strands of pearl necklaces.
A princess-style strand of 13 to 16-mm white pearl necklace from Jewelmer has an average price of USD64,000 or PHP3,298,624.
Meanwhile, a single rope necklace is priced at least PHP8 million.
Gretchen revealed that her love affair with pearls started when her daughter Dominique Cojuangco was just ten months old.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, she wrote, "My dada [husband Tony Boy Cojuangco] purchased 2 sets of necklaces & earrings in time for Dominique 1st birthday."
Gretched used to show her pearl accessories in her previous Instagram account, which she revealed was hacked in November 2021.