An Introduction to Pearls

Throughout history the pearl has been considered a sign of beauty and wealth. Cleopatra allowed a pearl to dissolve in her wine to prove she consume the wealth of an entire nation in one sip. Nero, the emperor, also drank a pearl in his wine. Pearls signify beauty and virginity for the new bride. There is evidence of pearls being given in homage to emperors in China over 2,000 years ago.

The pearl itself begins life as a grain of sand that grows into an object of beauty inside the soft tissue of a mollusk. Oddly enough the shell of the mollusk is composed of the same substance the pearl is made of – calcium carbonate. What makes the pearl so different is the size of the carbonate crystal. In the perlen the crystals are very small and formed in layers which wrap around each other to form either a smooth or striated surface.

Bivalves and clams are known to produce the most precious pearls. The nacreous pearls, the resulting pearls from the bivalves and clams, can be found in fresh and saltwater. One of these valuable pearls is made from nacre, the layers which build to also create the lining of the host shell.

Most pearls found in stores today are cultured pearls. A cultured pearl is one that was grown on a farmed and planned bed. A pearl can and will form on it’s on with the help of harvesting but it does not occur often. Looking for a pearl in the wild can damage the ecology of the local water as you will be required to open many shells to possibly find one pearl!

Many stores sell fake pearls. These pearls are made synthetically and sell for much less than natural or authentic pearls. Some synthetic pearls are of such a high quality it would take a professional jeweler to tell that it was not real. Many jewelers now set imitation pearls in real gold and silver offering clients a high-end piece of cocktail jewelry.

Pearls have been used for centuries in many ways including for Brautschmuck. They have adorned the crowns and jewels of royalty and been sewn on the clothing of the upper class. They have been used in make-up and in beauty treatments since the days of the first Chinese dynasties.

The value of pearls has much to do with rarity of the gem. Pearl divers practiced the art of free diving for centuries before modern diving technology was invented. With no modern technology the divers faced death from many avenues. The ocean was full of dangerous creatures and huge waves and tides. Many pearl divers, who worked as slaves for pearl merchants, died from the dangers. With the advent of modern harvesting techniques and modern diving technology the rarity of the pearl has decreased.

Although the value of the pearl has decreased monetarily it has not decreased as a treasure. It is still considered one of most precious gifts that can be given and continues to symbolize wealth and beauty.