Jewellery & Watch News
In the words of William Shakespeare, “The world is your Oyster”, and those born in June are lucky enough to be the pearl! Elegant, sophisticated and timeless, pearls are one of the world’s most unique and extraordinary gemstones and are widely associated with purity, wisdom and generosity, traditionally worn by brides on their wedding day, given as graduation gifts and of course, presented to those with a birthday in June.
Pearl jewellery has become somewhat of an expected statement piece in every lady’s collection from classic pearl necklaces to elegant pearl stud earrings and timeless pearl bracelets. No two pearls are the same as the other, each naturally cultivated and differing in colour, lustre, shape, size and surface. The lustre of pearls is one aspect that makes them so highly coveted, most commonly found in a smooth ivory hue with a pinkish iridescence, but you can also find them in black with a sheen of purple or green overtones.
History of Pearl
Pearls have fascinated the world ever since they were first discovered, a date which is entirely unknown, however the oldest piece of pearl jewellery was discovered in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess believed to have died in 520BC. Legends in Arab maintain that pearls are the tears of God and similarly Ancient Greek believed their Goddess Aphrodite cried tears of pearls. Pearls were also being given as ornamental gifts in Ancient China as far back as 2,250 with natives believing the June birthstone to have come from the brain of dragon.
The June birthstone is often referred to as the “queen of gemstones” not only for its superiority over other gemstones but for its associations with female power. One of history’s most famous stories involving the pearl talks about Cleopatra who used a pearl to win a bet whilst meeting with Roman general, and her future husband, Marc Anthony. She wagered that she could serve the most expensive dinner of all time and won by crushing one of her pearl earrings into her wine and drinking it. Modern estimates put the value of those pearls at more than £3 million each. One of the world’s most famous natural pearls is the La Peregrina, totalling to 50.56 carats. This pearl was discovered in the 1500s in the Gulf of Panama and in 2011 auctioned for a whopping $11.8 million.
Where is Pearl Found?
Unlike gemstones like diamond, ruby and emerald, pearls are not mined but created inside oysters and mussels. They form when a foreign substance tries to penetrate the shell and as a defence mechanism, the mollusc secretes a fluid which layer by layer coats the irritate and turns it into a lustrous pearl. Most natural freshwater pearls come from China while saltwater pearls are commonly found off the coast of Japan, French Polynesia, and Australia.
Alongside natural pearls, you may have also heard of cultured pearls. These are created in the same way as natural pearls, but the irritant, which is often a bead or a piece of mother of pearl shell, is surgically implanted into the mollusc to trigger the process. A famous gentlemen named Kokichi Mikimoto developed the world’s first cultured pearl in 1893 and later started his own jewellery business, still recognised worldwide today as Mikimoto.
Types of Pearl
Akoya Pearls are some of the best known saltwater pearls and are usually discovered in the classic ivory color. Akoya pearls were made famous by Kokichi Mikimoto, founder of the Mikimoto jewellery house, who experimented for over a decade to perfect the process of cultivating them.
Freshwater Pearls are exactly as they are described, found in mussels in bodies of fresh water. Mussels can produce around fifty of the gems at a time available in a spectrum of colours including pink, peach and purple.
Tahitian Pearls are extremely coveted for their rare ebony hue with an oily-like iridescence. They are often cultured in black-lipped oysters in French Polynesia.
South Sea Pearls are considered one of the more exotic gems and come in two shades, classic white and golden. The white variety of South Sea pearls are cultivated on the western coast of Australia while the golden variety are found in the Philippines and Indonesia. These are also famed for their size with the average South Sea gem varying between 9-22mm.
Powers of Pearl
Since pearls are one of just a handful of organic gems (the others being Coral, Amber and Jet), they been admired by cultures since the beginning of time and as expected, hold several associations. For many, the purity in colour and magical iridescence of pearl is linked with sincerity and innocence with many ancients believing that the June birthstone can bring out the truth in situations and inhibit boisterous behaviour. Others believe it to be a protective stone, shielding the wearer from unwanted energies and other-worldly sources. It’s associations with women and femininity have also encouraged many cultures to believe pearl can increase fertility.
Pearl Jewellery
Whether you’re celebrating a June birthday, buying for a partner for your 30th wedding anniversary or you’re simply in love with the enchanting iridescence of the gemstone, Pearl jewellery is a must-have for every sophisticated lady. Its wonderfully versatile properties means it can be worn for all occasions and when paired with other gemstones, like diamond or sapphire, its contrasting composition looks truly extraordinary.
You can shop a huge range of Pearl jewellery and June birthstone jewellery on the C W Sellors website including Pearl necklaces, Pearl pendants, Pearl bracelets, Pearl earrings, Pearl rings, Pearl brooches and Pearl cufflinks. Get in touch with the team today for more information on the Pearl gemstone and the interest free finance and free next day delivery available.
