Pearl Engagement Rings

I can’t quite put my finger on it but I am drawn to pearls more so than any other gemstones, so I thought I would 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 of a living organism. Pearls are formed within oysters or mollusks when a foreign substance (most often a parasite – not a grain of sand) invades the shell of the mollusk and enters the soft mantle tissue. In response to the irritation, the mantle’s epithelial cells form a sac (known as a pearl sac) which secretes a crystalline substance called nacre, the same substance which makes up the interior of a mollusk’s shell, which builds up in layers around the irritant, forming a pearl. Confusion often surrounds the difference between natural and cultured pearls, but to clarify cultured pearls are still real pearls, grown organically inside of oysters in the same way as natural pearls. 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 oyster. Thus, the formation and discovery of the pearl are no longer left to chance.

Pearls in History.
According to The list of birthstones shown which was agreed by the National Association of Goldsmiths in 1937, pearl is the birthstone for June; I have also discovered that pearl is also the anniversary gemstone for the 12th and 30th year of marriage, and Fresh Water Pearl is the anniversary gemstone for the 1st year of marriage. Although pearls are still popular now, they have been sought after for a very long time, in fact, a fragment of the oldest known pearl jewellery was found in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess who died in 520BC (this is now on display in the Louvre in Paris).
Pearls 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, cultures from around the world and throughout recorded history have valued pearls longer than any other gemstone. The myths and meanings linked with pearls differ from culture to culture, but some elements do link together…

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 symbolize love and purity. Hindu texts also say that Krishna presented his daughter with a beautiful pearl on her wedding day.
Islamic tradition shows an even higher regard for pearls, as the Koran speaks of pearls as one of the greatest rewards found in paradise. The pearl has now become a symbol of perfection in Islam.
In ancient Rome, pearls were a highly prized accessory, and worn as a symbol of wealth and prestige. They were such a status symbol, that an effort was actually made to prohibit the wearing of pearls by those not deserving of them.
Pearls are also often said to provide love and fertility, to symbolize purity, and even ward off evil.

The price of pearls.
The price of pearls vary widely as a result of luster, size, how they were grown, color and type. Natural pearls are the most expensive, followed by cultured pearls. Fresh water pearls tend to be relatively inexpensive.

Caring for Pearls.
Pearl has a hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale (scale used to measure the hardness of gemstones – softest being 1 and hardest being 10), and so pearls are less durable than most gems. They are softer and more delicate, and are therefore more easily scratched, cracked, and damaged.
Pearls are sensitive to acids, dryness, and humidity, and substances such as perfume and hairspray can cause them damage. If you wear make-up, perfume, hair products, or even simply moisturizer, ensure you put them on and allow them to fully dry and/or soak in before wearing your pearl jewellery to minimize the amount of these products that comes into contact with the pearls. After wearing your pearls, wipe them with a soft damp cloth to remove any traces of cosmetic products or body oils.

You should store your pearl jewellery in a dry environment (avoid using plastic bags as moisture may get trapped and cause damage), and try to keep them separate from other jewellery as they are easily scratched; if possible, store them wrapped in clean soft cloth, pouch, or jewelry box.… not only will this keep them looking lovely, it will also make them seem more special.