Hillary Waterman, Ph.D. is an anthropologist and science writer based on the coast of Maine. She writes about culture, language, history and human origins for diverse publications, including Discover Magazine, Babel the language magazine and the New York Times blog, Motherlode.
In the twentieth century, the mollusk-produced gem was a must have for members of WASP gentility. In the twenty-first century, its appeal is far more inclusive.