Lost and found: my Prince necklace

Beach, municipality Bergen, The Netherlands

Introduction

I don’t own jewelry, necklaces, rings, etc. Except for two things: my wedding-ring and a necklace with a Prince sign pendant. This short story is about the order of my necklace, 25 years ago, and losing (and subsequently finding) my necklace (again).

Man/woman sign

Man/woman sign on Prince albums 1999, Purple Rain, Strange Tales From The Rain and (2 times on) Graffiti Bridge

During the 1992 Prince & The New Power Generation Diamonds And Pearls tour, pins were sold with the combined male/female sign that was linked to Prince.

The sign was used on the 1982 album 1999for the first time. The sign was more prominently visible on the motorcycle on the cover of the 1984 album Purple Rain.

On the 1984 release of the compilation Strange Tales From The Rain (Prince: 1978-1984), which was only available in Japan, the sign fills the complete back-cover.

Prince Nude tour 1990

Finally, it was used (twice) on the cover of the 1990 album Graffiti Bridge.

At the time of the Nude tour in 1990 the sign was used on a much wider scale. Prince incorporated it in his clothing, instruments and jewelry.

I liked the sign. It is a combination of the male sign ♂ and the female sign ♀.

I thought (and think) the meaning behind it was interesting. Androgyny, in the sense that the division between male/female is unnatural. Humans are made up of male and female powers and can function at their full potential if both powers are combined. Whether or not Prince interpreted or meant it this way, I don’t know…

Anyway: I bought the pin, 25 years ago.

Love Symbol

Eventually, the man/woman sign would evolve into , the name of the 1992 album, and Prince’s name from 1993 to 2000. But, at the time I bought the pin, the so-called Love Symbol had just been designed and there were no signs whatsoever of a (public) fued between Prince and Warner Bros. and/or an upcoming name-change.

From pin to pendant

Necklace/Pendant

Jeweler Bernard Schipper

In 1993 I had a job, which allowed me to keep some of my yearly vacation bonus for something other than music. I decided to spend it on something big. I delivered the pin to jeweler Bernard Schipper at the Kalverstraat, Amsterdam (now defunct), requesting moulding the pin into a pendant using white gold. The jeweler liked the assignment, not just for the money that was in it for them, but also for the handicraft involved in it. The total costs were over ƒ 1100,-, which is about € 500,-; a small fortune to me at the time. The first and only time I spent that much money on jewelry.

Since then the necklace and pendant never left me, except on two occasions:

• Just after acquiring the necklace Zühâl wore it for a short amount of time;
• I lost it…

Necklace disappears into the sand

Lost

During the summer of 2015 my family and me were at the beach for the day. I had my necklace with me and took it off to go swimming in the sea. I probably wasn’t paying attention enough and misplaced the necklace. Anyway, upon returning home the necklace didn’t go with me.

Combing the beach

In the course of the night I found out I was missing my necklace. I wanted to go to the beach immediately to find it, but Zühâl persuaded me not to go: what is there to be done at the beach in the darkness?

I didn’t sleep, and as soon as the first rays of light were visible I was on my way to the beach.

I more or less remembered where we had our spot, as long as I could find the point of reference I clearly remembered. Unfortunately, every evening/night the beach/sand is flattened using tractors. When I arrived at the beach around 04:30 AM a lot of beach-combers were present with their metal-detectors in search of valuable items that were either left behind or lost the day before, among which money, rings, necklaces, etc. In short: no point of reference and others actively searching the beach for valuables: things were not looking good…

Male/female & Prince sign necklace/pendant

However, I was able to determine a part of the pit where we were close to. It had occurred to me that it would be useful to bring along a rake. Armed with the rake I walked unto the spot where we, approximately, were seated.

Haphazardly I planted the rake into the sand. First time: nothing…. Second time: a hit!!

As incredible as it sounds, it is true. The second time I planted the rake into the sand and I pulled it back up, along with it my necklace and pendant resurfaced!

What are the odds finding something that tiny on a completely abandoned beach, with nothing more than a vague notion of where to look? Nil, of course. Talk about luck!

Anyway: I commenced on my way back, intensely happy, with my necklace.

In closing

Have you ever lost something dear to you, only to find it, against all odds? Let me know!