what was your most regrettable pearl related and moment and why?

When I was 20 i had a rich boyfriend. he gave me a pair of biwa pearl earring studs. He told me at the time they were expensive but I didn't understand what that meant. they were lovely and I wore them constantly for several years.

Then I got older and the earrings got lost in the house for years. I unearthed them during clutter clean out. I washed the yellowed gunk off from neglect and gave them to a friend.

Now I have learned a little about pearls and wish I had them back. It makes me slightly ill to think of what I threw away.

edited to say: they were keshi, not biwa. brain fart...