Pearl Jewelry

     Pearls are the birthstone of those born in June and are the anniversary stone of the third year. The ancient Greeks felt that pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent the newlywed from crying. In the middle ages, pearls were given to ladies from their knights and in the 14th and 15th century, royal weddings involved everyone wearing pearls. Today, cultured pearl jewelry is often worn by brides.

     Oysters are the shellfish in which pearls grow. Cultured pearls are pearls that are brought to life when a worker surgically implants a tiny bead into an oyster. The host oyster is then lowered back in to the water and it will deposit layer upon layer of a substance called nacre around the bead, eventually forming a pearl large enough to harvest. As well, some oysters produce pearls without any help, forming nacre around a natural irritant that gets inside their shells. These are rare however, and culturing produces far more pearls than nature could alone.

     Pearls are said to signify faith, charity, and innocence, and to enhance personal integrity and help to provide focus to ones attention. The pearl has been known as a "stone of sincerity", bringing truth and loyalty. It has been used to inhibit boisterous behavior, and to provide self-reflection.

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