I am predicting that pearls--timeless gems--are making a big comeback. Pearl jewerly, fake, cultured and real, were everywhere at the last gift show I attended in NY. AND, if you are into the bead craze, watch for etched pearls you can add to Chamilia bracelet.
Marilyn Monroe loved pearls; she would be 85 this month if she were alive today. And I bet she would be wearing her pearls, especially this month, since pearls are the birthstone for June.
The pearl has been a symbol of unblemished perfection. It is the oldest known gem, and for centuries it was considered the most valuable gem. Pearls have been considered ideal wedding gifts because they symbolize purity and innocence.
Well before the birth of Christ, ancient cultures had discovered the natural pearl in massive oyster beds. These oyster beds had for so long been quietly producing beautiful pearls under the Persian Gulf, Red Sea and Indian Ocean. At this point in the history of pearls, pearl jewely began its status as a symbol of wealth in Middle Eastern and Asian cultures and continued for hundreds of years. Rulers of the era dawned themselves in gorgeous natural pearl jewelry that was only available to the wealthy.
As the Roman Empire expanded into Egyptian and Greek territories, the status power of the pearl was adopted. As time went on, and new cultures came into power, the reign of the pearl continued.
By 1890, all the natural pearl resources had all but disappeared. The demand for pearl jewelry had grown too much for nature to keep up with. A new innovation --the cultured pearl-- was about to begin that would transform the pearl industry forever.
Tokichi Nishikawa, Tatsuhei Mise, and Kokichi Mikimoto each played an important role in the development of modern pearl culturing techniques. They developed a way to harvest pearls in a much speedier fashion than the natural process. The final product is a beautiful pearl virtually identical to a natural pearl.
There are three types of Saltwater Cultured Pearls and one type of Freshwater Pearl available today:
Akoya Pearls
In most cases, when you see someone wearing a single-strand pearl necklace, it is most likely strung with Akoya pearls – the very first pearls to be cultured in the early 20th century. Akoya pearls are the most popular of all the pearls used in pearl jewerly because of the quality and value they provide.
The actual characteristics of an Akoya pearl are beautiful. Akoya pearls can come in a natural brilliant white. Akoya's can also take on a slight hue of pink, rose, yellow and even blue. When matched with other similar shaded pearls, a set of Akoya pearl jewelry can look soft and sparkly.
Tahitian Pearls
Tahitian pearls, are from black-lipped oysters found within the warm waters of the South Seas. They are the only pearls to achieve a black body color naturally. The black-lipped oyster is very sensitive to the pearl culturing process which in return makes Tahitian pearl Jewelry very unique. It is for this reason, a Tahitian pearl jewelry gift makes for an extraordinary, gift.
South Sea Pearls
South Sea pearls are among the rarest and most sought-after pearls available today. With measurements typically ranging anywhere between 10mm to 20mm in size, South Sea pearls appear prominently in a pure white or golden color and are ideal for most jewelry pieces.
Freshwater Pearls
Freshwater pearl jewelry starts with a pearl from freshwater mussels typically produced in China, Japan and the United States. Generally speaking, Freshwater pearls cover the widest range of colors and shapes than any other pearl type currently available… making them the perfect fit for pearl jewelry.
Today, pearls still captivate the public the way they did thousands of years ago. Pearl jewelry will continue its sign of beauty, elegance, and stature. Knowing the rich history of pearls gives you a key insight into why pearl jewelry is so highly regarded and gives you a new appreciation for these beautiful gems.
