Myanmar's golden pearls outshine rivals

20160819_Three "parcels" of Myanmar pearls auction

Three "parcels" of Myanmar pearls among more than 300 lots auctioned in Naypyitaw in June. (Photo by Guy Dinmore)

GUY DINMORE, Contributing writer

NAYPYITAW -- Hillary Clinton wears them, and so does Aung San Suu Kyi. They nearly disappeared for decades under military rule, but the world's most sought-after pearls are once again to be found in Myanmar.

Two international auctions this year -- in Hong Kong in March and Naypyitaw in late June -- saw traders bid up prices to new highs. While Clinton, the U.S. presidential hopeful, and Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader, prefer traditional white, the latest trend in high-end fashion has seen demand soaring for pearls of shimmering gold.

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