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What is a Pearl?
A Pearl is a smooth, round growth formed naturally within
the shell of a mollusk due to an irritant and used as a
gem. A Pearl is a hard, roundish object produced within
the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living
shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of mollusks, a
Pearl is composed of calcium carbonate in minute
crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric
layers. The ideal Pearl is perfectly round and smooth,
but many other shapes of Pearls (baroque Pearls) occur.
Long known as the "Queen of Gems," Pearls possess a
history and allure far beyond what today's wearer may
recognize. Throughout much of recorded history, a
natural Pearl necklace comprised of matched spheres was
a treasure of almost incomparable value, in fact the
most expensive jewelry in the world. Now we see Pearls
almost as accessories, relatively inexpensive
decorations to accompany more costly gemstones.
The Gems Since the Ancient Ages
Ever since the ancient Egyptians first started creating
jewelry, Pearls have become one of the highest regarded
gemstones. Even today Pearls still hold their value due
to the rarity of "mother nature" creating this form of
jewelry.
The Arabs have shown the greatest love for Pearls. The
depth of their affection for Pearls is enshrined in the
Koran, especially within its description of Paradise,
which says: "The stones are Pearls and jacinths; the
fruits of the trees are Pearls and emeralds; and each
person admitted to the delights of the celestial kingdom
is provided with a tent of Pearls, jacinths, and
emeralds; is crowned with Pearls of incomparable lustre,
and is attended by beautiful maidens resembling hidden
Pearls."
The Most Prized Gem Prior to 19th Century
Prior to the 19th century, when they were
superseded in price by diamonds, natural Pearls had, throughout history,
been valued above all other gems. Although their beauty, and the fact
that they come out of the mollusk ready to use, were important factors,
it was sheer rarity that drove their value to the highest levels. The
formation of a large, beautiful and perfect natural Pearl is an event so
unlikely in Nature that only those at the pinnacle of wealth and power
in a society were able to own them. Depending on the species between
1/1000 to 1/500,000 mollusks will form Pearls during their lifespan, and
the vast majority of those formed will be small, off-color or flawed.
Celebrated for Centuries
Pearls, in fact, played the pivotal role at the most
celebrated banquet in literature. To convince Rome that
Egypt possessed a heritage and wealth that put it above
conquest, Cleopatra wagered Marc Antony she could give
the most expensive dinner in history. The Roman reclined
as the queen sat with an empty plate and a goblet of
wine (or vinegar). She crushed one large Pearl of a pair
of earrings, dissolved it in the liquid, then drank it
down. Astonished, Antony declined his dinner -- the
matching Pearl -- and admitted she had won. Pliny, the
world's first gemologist, writes in his famous Natural
History that the two Pearls were worth an estimated 60
million sesterces, or 1,875,000 ounces of fine silver
($9,375,000 with silver at $5/ounce).
The Birth of a Pearl
The birth of a Pearl is truly a miraculous event. Unlike
gemstones or precious metals; which must be mined from the earth, Pearls
are grown by live oysters far below the surface of the sea. Gemstones
must be cut and polished to bring out their beauty, while Pearls need no
such treatment to reveal their loveliness. They are born from oysters
complete...
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Pearl Luster
Luster is what many experts term the heart and soul of
the sea-grown gem. Throughout history, this unique luster has separated
Pearls from all other gems. For cultured Pearl experts, luster is
perhaps the most important indicator in evaluating cultured Pearl
quality. Luster is what separates the inferior Pearl from the superior
and the ordinary from the extraordinary...
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The History of Pearls
No one will ever know who were the earliest people to
collect and wear Pearls. George Frederick Kunz, whom I
like to call America's first gemologist, in his 1908
masterpiece, The Book of the Pearl, states his belief
that an ancient fish-eating tribe, perhaps along the
coast of India, initially appreciated the shape and
lustre of saltwater Pearls, which they discovered while
opening oysters for food...
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Natural Pearls
A natural Pearl is a Pearl that forms in nature with no
human intervention. Natural Pearls, What is a Natural
Pearl Natural Pearls are grown in wild oysters. The
process begins when an irritant, such as a grain of sand
or a piece of shell, gets inside an oyster's shell. To
protect its delicate body from the irritant, the Pearl
secretes a substance called nacre to surround...
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Freshwater Pearls
Freshwater Pearls are a kind of Pearl that comes from
freshwater mussels. They are produced in Japan and the
United States on a limited scale, but are now almost
exclusive to China The U.S. Federal Trade Commission
requires that freshwater Pearls are referred to as
"freshwater cultured Pearls" in commerce. Although many
freshwater Pearls are irregular oblong “rice Pearls,”...
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Saltwater Pearls
Although freshwater Pearls can be grown in mussels and
other mollusks, saltwater Pearls are always grown in
oysters. Most saltwater Pearls are harvested in the Red
Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the coastal waters of India
and Japan. Generally, saltwater Pearls are higher in
quality than freshwater Pearls. They often have a
smooth, round, regular shape—freshwater Pearls tend
to...
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Cultured Pearls
Cultured Pearls are those in which humans take a helping
hand. By actually inserting a foreign object into the
tissue of an oyster or mollusk, Pearl farmers can induce
the creation of a Pearl. The same natural process of
Pearl creation takes place. Like natural Pearls,
cultured Pearls grow inside a living organism. However,
they do not begin as accidental intruders...
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South Sea Pearls
South Sea Pearls is a generic name for the
Pearls, usually 9mm-16mm in size, produced by the two groups of large
Pearl producing oysters. These oysters can grow to 25-30 cm in size, and
are much rarer than their Akoya counterparts....
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The Pearl Myths
There are many myths
about Pearls that have continued through the centuries.
"Pearls of Wisdom", is a common saying and even
shares the title of some books in areas such as
medicine, country living, inspiration and wisdom
collections and Oriental teachings.
Hindu astrological
belief in natural Pearls The Vedic tradition describes
the sacred Nine Pearls...
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How to Care for your Pearls
Pearls give the most natural glow under the morning
sunlight. Spotlights also enhance their appearance. Therefore, if, when
shopping for Pearls, the items are being displayed under direct sunlight
or bright artificial light, it would be best to request to have them
removed before examining them. Furthermore, when red objects are present
around Pearls, reddish reflection automatically gives the appearance of
a thick nacre. To be safe, it is advisable to shop in the morning...
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Back to 'All About Pearls' Summary
Ever since the ancient Egyptians first started creating
jewelry, Pearls have become one of the highest regarded gemstones. Even
today Pearls still hold their value due to the rarity of "mother nature"
creating this form of jewelry. Pearls are created from a core. The core
of a natural Pearl is simply a fragment of shell or fishbone, or a grain
of sand that strays into the unsuspecting Pearl oyster's shell. To
protect itself from this irritant the oyster secretes multiple layers of
nacre, forming a Pearl...
Read more...
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What is a Pearl?
