To avoid stress and the Christmas rush, it has been a "tradition" for Gretchen Barretto and her daughter Dominique to choose in advance the Christmas presents they want to receive from their "dada" Tonyboy Cojuangco.
Gretchen already knows what she wants this year, so when she went "window shopping," one of her stops was at Jewelmer, where her "dada" purchased her first pearl jewelry: two sets of pearl necklace and earrings.
She wore them at Dominique's first birthday party.
That was more than 20 years ago. That was also when her love affair with South Sea pearls began.
She now has a collection boasting of pearls in various colors, sizes, and shapes.
By the way, the two sets of pearl necklace that Tonyboy purchased for her were made into bracelets last year.