I. In the '50s, Joseph Heller of Deltah merged with Sperry Manufacturing Company from Providence, RI (a costume jewelry manufacturer) and the company was renamed Heller-Sperry.

II. For 20 years prior to World War II, cultured pearl growers in the Orient selected and saved their most valuable gems, building secret collections . . . collections of matched pearls and strands the like of which no one had ever before seen. In order to protect them, many resorted to burying their pearls deep in the earth, while others hid their treasures in the dark recesses of caves and cellars. With the coming of World War II, these primitive
methods of hiding the pearls became useless and many of the pearl growers pooled their precious hoards and entrusted the entire collection to the officers of the Bank of Japan. The collection then became known as "Lot 88" and was buried deep In the subterranean vaults of the bank. There it stayed until 1950, when the Supreme Commander of the Asiatic and Pacific Forces ruled that "Lot 88"—by this time exciting cultured pearl collectors the world over—should be sold at auction to the highest bidder. The Imperial Pearl Syndicate of Chicago, having out-bid all others, became the proud owners of this world-renowned collection and in October of 1950,"Lot 88" was finally brought to America. Now, with their co-operation, it is our proud pleasure to present "Lot 88" and to offer them to you at very substantial reductions off their regular price.

III. Anesthetic May Wake UpJapanese Pearl Trade New Setup Makes Painless OperationOn Oyster and Cuts Down on Mortality Imperial develops anesthetic for Oysters 1951 Second dress Goes on nation wide Tour

IV. Founded in 1959, Giovanni's jewelry manufacturing business was originally based in Providence, Rhode Island.

V .The Pearl Capitol was commissioned by Imperial Pearl Syndicate to a Japanese company in 1959.