I'd like to add that if the La Tausca pearls shown with my certificate cost $90 in, I am guessing perhaps 1950 or so, that in today's money that would now be the equivilant about $1,200.00 - quite a bit of money!
Although this is an old thread, I'd like to add that La Tausca actually made real cultured pearl necklaces, too. I own one, and the certificate that goes with it.