| Pearls have been recognized for centuries as one | | | | Tahiti, China, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Burma, |
| of the most prized of all gemstones. The pearl is | | | | and the Philippines. |
| the oldest known gem, and also, historically, the | | | | What makes Pearl Jewelry so Special? |
| most valuable. Powhattan, father of Pocahontas, | | | | Both the Aztecs and the Incas revered the |
| was an avid collector of pearls and pearl jewelry. | | | | precious gem for not only its beauty, but also the |
| Even Julius Ceasar himself regarded pearls as such | | | | belief that pearls contained magical powers. In |
| a precious entity that he made it a legal mandate | | | | Greek mythology, pearls were thought to be |
| during his rulership that pearls be worn only by | | | | materialized tears of joy that fell to the earth |
| royalty and the noblest of men. The pearl, | | | | from the eyes of the great Greek goddess |
| throughout time, has been the ultimate symbol of | | | | Aphrodite. Ancient Egyptians associated the pearl |
| unblemished perfection and natural beauty. | | | | gemstone with their revered goddess Isis, bringer |
| What are Pearls? | | | | of healing and life. The pearl is unlike any other |
| Shiny, illustrious adornments worn for centuries by | | | | gemstone. While all other gems are formed from |
| nobility, pearls are unique in appearance and | | | | hardening mineral deposits that must be mined, |
| texture. The pearl is a smooth, round-shaped | | | | cut, and then polished to reveal their true luster |
| composite, derived chiefly from calcium carbonate. | | | | and shine, pearls are one of this earth's own |
| In size, shape, and unbeknownst to some, even | | | | natural beauty's. Pearls are handpicked from the |
| color, peals exist in a variety of different forms. | | | | deepest seabeds of the ocean, and possess an |
| Most commonly small, round, white gems; pearls | | | | iridescence that cannot be mirrored by any |
| can be spherical, oval-shaped, or irregular in form. | | | | land-mined stone. No two pearls are identical, |
| Where do Pearls come from? | | | | meaning that each-and-every pearl is a |
| Native Americans who lived along the Atlantic | | | | one-of-a-kind 'gem of the sea.' Pearl jewelry is |
| Coast and the Mississippi River Basin were the | | | | considered a cherishable token at weddings and |
| first to collect oysters for the making of pearl | | | | baby showers, because the pearl represents |
| pendants and decorative jewelry pieces. Pearls, | | | | foremost purity and innocence. |
| which are cultured most commonly in seawaters, | | | | Colors of Pearl Jewelry |
| are more valuable and expensive than those | | | | Pearl jewelry comes in a plethora of natural tones |
| cultivated in freshwater. This is because seawater | | | | and colors, including white, off-white, |
| oysters are only capable of producing one or two | | | | crème, and rose. Less common are silver |
| pearls at a time, with each production cycle taking | | | | and black-colored pearls, which are rare and found |
| a rough minimum of three years to complete. | | | | only in waters of the South Seas. Pearls usually |
| Freshwater oysters, on the other hand, can | | | | vary in size from about 4-8.5 mm in diameter, |
| produce up to 50 pearl gems in a single cycle. | | | | and are worn as symbols of pure beauty and |
| Today, pearls are most abundant in the regions of | | | | elegance. |