By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

HOOVER – Pearls of varying shapes, sizes and colors filled the foyer of the Founders Clubhouse at Greystone for the Ladies Club’s “All About Pearls” luncheon on April 13.

Taylor Brennan with Love The Pearls Inc., a privately held U.S. company with operations around the world, talked about how pearls are formed, how they are harvested and how companies like his family’s company provide pearl jewelry to consumers.

Brennan said his father started Love The Pearls Inc., making it a second-generation company.

“Our pearls are harvested all around the world,” Brennan said. “You’re getting pearls directly from the producer with us.”

Brennan talked about the primary components that define pearls – luster, color, shape, size and origin – and other uses for pearls.

Pearl powder, for example, is used in cosmetics and car paint, he said.

Brennan noted celebrities from bygone decades who have made pearls more famous, including fashion designer Coco Chanel, actress Grace Kelly and former First Lady Jackie Kennedy.

Brennan closed the presentation by answering questions, such as what to use to clean pearl jewelry (water with liquid ivory soap), what Mother of Pearl is (the inside of the oyster that houses pearls) and how to discern real pearls from synthetic pearls (real pearls have a gritty, sandy texture).

Brennan drew numbers for prizes and gave each woman in attendance a pair of pearl earrings.

Next month’s GLC program will be “All About Bees.” The May meeting will be the club’s last meeting for the 2015-2016 year, and new officers will be installed.

Club President Tina Douglass reviewed the club’s charitable contributions this year. The club donated $500 to the Save the O’s 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run in memory of Lori Johnson; sponsored 20 children for Christmas through DHR; donated canned goods to Alabama Childhood Food Solutions; and will award a scholarship to a Spain Park High School student this spring.