As you can see from my ring collections (and a lot of my bridal pieces too) I often use pearls in my work. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I am drawn to pearls more so than any of the other gemstones. So I thought I'd give you some information on this lovely gem in the hopes of igniting a passion for pearls in you...
What is a pearl?
Pearls are the only gemstones grown inside a living organism. Pearls are formed within oysters or molluscs when a foreign substance invades the shell of the mollusc and enters the soft mantle tissue. In response to the irritation a pearl sac is created which secretes a substance called nacre (the same substance that makes up the interior of a mollusc's shell) which builds up in layers around the irritant, forming a pearl.
Natural/cultured?
Confusion often surrounds the difference between natural and cultured pearls. Cultured pearls are still real pearls, grown organically inside a mollusc in the same way as a natural pearl; the difference is that in the case of cultured pearls, the pearl farmer intentionally stimulates the development of the pearl by inserting a "nucleus" into the mollusc - meaning that the formation and discovery of the pearl are not left to chance.
Pearls in history.
Although pearls are still popular today, they have been sought after for a very long time. They have been prized for their beauty and rarity from ancient China, India, and Egypt, to Imperial Rome, to the Arab world, to Native American tribes.
Ancient Greeks highly valued pearls and used them especially at weddings, as they were said to bring love.
In Hindu culture, pearls are associated with the moon and symbolise love and purity. Hindu texts also say that Krishna presented his daughter with a beautiful pearl on her wedding day.
Pearls are often said to provide love and fertility, to symbolise purity, and even ward off evil.
Caring for pearls.
Pearls are delicate, and are more easily scratched, cracked, or damaged; but as long as you care for them correctly, it is not a problem.
Pearls are sensitive to acids, dryness and humidity, and substances such as perfume and hairspray can cause them damage. If you wear make-up, hair products, or even simply moisturiser, ensure you put them on and allow them to fully dry and/or soak in before wearing your pearl jewellery to minimise the amount of contact between the products and the pearl(s). After wearing your pearls, wipe them with a clean soft cloth to remove any traces of cosmetics or body oils. You should store your pearl jewellery in a dry environment, and try to keep them separate from other jewellery as they are easily scratched; if possible, store them wrapped in a clean soft cloth, pouch, or jewellery box... not only will this keep them looking good, it will also make them seem more special.
A few examples of my pearl pieces.
What is a pearl?
Pearls are the only gemstones grown inside a living organism. Pearls are formed within oysters or molluscs when a foreign substance invades the shell of the mollusc and enters the soft mantle tissue. In response to the irritation a pearl sac is created which secretes a substance called nacre (the same substance that makes up the interior of a mollusc's shell) which builds up in layers around the irritant, forming a pearl.
Natural/cultured?
Confusion often surrounds the difference between natural and cultured pearls. Cultured pearls are still real pearls, grown organically inside a mollusc in the same way as a natural pearl; the difference is that in the case of cultured pearls, the pearl farmer intentionally stimulates the development of the pearl by inserting a "nucleus" into the mollusc - meaning that the formation and discovery of the pearl are not left to chance.
Pearls in history.
Although pearls are still popular today, they have been sought after for a very long time. They have been prized for their beauty and rarity from ancient China, India, and Egypt, to Imperial Rome, to the Arab world, to Native American tribes.
Ancient Greeks highly valued pearls and used them especially at weddings, as they were said to bring love.
In Hindu culture, pearls are associated with the moon and symbolise love and purity. Hindu texts also say that Krishna presented his daughter with a beautiful pearl on her wedding day.
Pearls are often said to provide love and fertility, to symbolise purity, and even ward off evil.
Caring for pearls.
Pearls are delicate, and are more easily scratched, cracked, or damaged; but as long as you care for them correctly, it is not a problem.
Pearls are sensitive to acids, dryness and humidity, and substances such as perfume and hairspray can cause them damage. If you wear make-up, hair products, or even simply moisturiser, ensure you put them on and allow them to fully dry and/or soak in before wearing your pearl jewellery to minimise the amount of contact between the products and the pearl(s). After wearing your pearls, wipe them with a clean soft cloth to remove any traces of cosmetics or body oils. You should store your pearl jewellery in a dry environment, and try to keep them separate from other jewellery as they are easily scratched; if possible, store them wrapped in a clean soft cloth, pouch, or jewellery box... not only will this keep them looking good, it will also make them seem more special.
A few examples of my pearl pieces.
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