Mysterious as the Depths of Sea - The Pearl...

Throughout history, pearls have conjured images of mystery, royalty, and wealth. Pearls rank among the most popular gems in the world. With a serene beauty, they make perfect complements to flashier gems. Yet, they also possess an elegance that can shine alone.

The pearl’s distinctive appearance and watery origins have inspired symbolism and lore for centuries. Often called "the Queen of Gems and the Gem of Queens," the pearl, with its warm, inner glow, has been one of the most highly prized gems.

Cleopatra dissolved a single pearl in a glass of wine and drank it to win a wager with Mark Antony. She bet him that she could consume the wealth of an entire nation in just one meal. In 55 BC., Julius Caesar stood on the coast of France, watching his ships preparing for an invasion of England. According to his biographer, Suetonius, it was not only Britain’s mineral wealth that lured Caesar to invade the British Isles, but mostly it was his lust for Britain’s pearls! British pearls decked the gowns, neck, hair, and fingers of Elizabeth I of England. As seen in many photographs, Queen Elizabeth II, Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton were often pictured in lustrous pearls. Coco Chanel, the queen of fashion, said, “A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls.”

As the traditional June birthstone in Western cultures, pearls have another popular link with the idealized month for weddings and brides. The pearl is also the gem of the third and thirtieth anniversaries.

The scientific explanation for natural pearls is almost as mysterious as its folklore. The pearl begins its life as an irritant to an oyster, clam or mussel. The mollusk coats the intruding object with nacre, a crystalline substance that builds up over time to protect itself. The result is a shimmering, iridescent creation – the pearl. The culturing process developed by man mimics nature. However the pearl gets its start, it truly is the “Queen of Gems!”

Ask one of our jewelers about pearls and see their beauty up close. Contact us or visit our showroom!