When choosing a bracelet or necklace made of round mother-of-pearl beads, you need to first ask whether pearls are right for you. A mineral of organic origin can decorate every woman and harmonizes with almost any outfit, but does not always match the horoscope of its owner. This explains the contradictory properties attributed to one of the most valuable seafood.
Silver jewelry with pearls (go to the SUNLIGHT catalog)
Why is it that for some people pearls are a talisman and a talisman that attracts good luck, while for others it only brings disappointment and makes them depressed? The answer to this question can be found by understanding the magical properties of the gemstone, to which all women are partial.
How did pearls appear?
There are as many legends about the origin of mother-of-pearl stones as there are peoples who have valued shiny balls since time immemorial. The most beautiful of them was born in Ancient Greece. It tells the story of how drops of water from Aphrodite’s hair turned into pearls when the foam-born goddess came ashore.
In the ancient East, in Arabia and Persia, it was commonly believed that a pearl treasure is born where the ends of the rainbow touch the sea waves. The only people who probably knew where and how the jewelry was obtained were pearl divers. In ancient Japan, there was even a separate group of coastal residents, in which the secrets of the profession were inherited - from mother to daughter. Only women could obtain pearls.
In other countries, men were engaged in difficult and dangerous fishing. Plunging to a considerable depth, they risked their own lives, raising mollusk shells to the surface, in which beautiful treasures were born from the bottom of the warm seas. Most of the shells turned out to be empty, and only in some cases did brave sea workers manage to get a shining ball out of them.
Enterprising Chinese solved the problem simply: they began to artificially grow precious balls. Having figured out how pearls are formed, people began to place a small pebble or bead in the shell. Over the course of several years, the mollusk enveloped the foreign object with shiny mother-of-pearl, turning it into a real pearl. All that remained was to assemble the finished “products”.
To this day, cultured material is obtained using ancient technology. Despite the fact that there was no longer a need to dive for precious stones in the shark-infested waters of warm seas, pearls did not become cheaper. Its high price is explained by the large amount of labor required for cultivation: not every pearl has jewelry quality. Even when a seed is introduced, on which a layer of mother-of-pearl should grow, a precious round stone is formed in only one out of 4-5 mollusks. It takes several years to grow a shiny ball about 7-8 mm in size. The pearl mussels themselves hatch from eggs and grow for 5 years until they reach an age when they can be used to produce valuable products.
Knowing how gems are formed, how much time and labor is spent on their production, you may be surprised at the abundance of jewelry with these stones. But this can be explained quite simply: in addition to real, natural or cultured pearls, there are also artificial pearls.
Historical reference
According to scientists, the first pearls were discovered in the shells of bivalve edible mollusks caught in the waters of the Gulf of Mannar 4,000 years ago.
The age of the oldest pearl jewelry discovered during archaeological excavations in Susa is 4.5 thousand years.
As legend has it, one of the secrets of the incomparable beauty of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra was that she drank a glass of wine every day, in which a large pearl was dissolved.
In memory of the miraculous drink, guests of the modern Japanese hotel "Otani" are offered to try the "Pearl" cocktail: along with a glass of wine, they receive a pearl lying on a rose petal.
The rulers of ancient states used pearls to regulate interstate relations: by presenting each other with expensive jewelry, they not only showed their affection, but also demonstrated their own wealth.
Portrait of Empress Maria Feodorovna in a pearl headdress by Ivan Kramskoy (1880s) St. Petersburg, State Hermitage Museum
Alexander the Great, who became the owner of countless treasures obtained as a result of his campaigns in the East (this happened in the 4th century BC), laid the foundation for a pearl fever that lasted for two centuries and made pearls incredibly popular among the nobility of that time.
In ancient China, a pearl adorned on the cap of every nobleman emphasized his high status.
Pearls arrived in ancient Rus' from China and began to be widely used to decorate clothing, household utensils and icon frames.
Prince Svyatoslav, as chroniclers testify, wore a pearl earring in one ear. Ivan the Terrible's robe, embroidered with pearls, amazed foreign ambassadors with its beauty and wealth.
They were also surprised by the fact that peasant women in some provinces wore pearl beads and headdresses generously embroidered with river pearls for the holiday.
In medieval Europe, icons, church utensils, and priestly robes were decorated with pearls.
What kind of stone is Majorca?
The Spanish jewelry company Majorica has discovered and patented an exclusive method for producing imitation real pearls. The composition and formula of the material, produced at an industrial enterprise without the participation of marine life, is kept secret. The company only demonstrates to everyone what Majorca pearls are and how they are made. The process of making the base can be observed in the company store on the island of Mallorca, where the jewelry production and the company's head office are located.
The artificial material is balls of glassy mass. The master makes each pearl by hand by heating a stick of translucent substance. The molten soft mass is wound around a metal rod.
The cooled balls are mounted on a wooden frame and sent to the workshop for finishing. There they are coated with a paste that includes powder made from real pearls and mother-of-pearl. The company also keeps the full composition of this paste secret. Dried pearls, already similar to real ones, are polished with special soft brushes. At the same time, imitation major pearls acquire the luster characteristic of natural stone of the highest quality.
Thanks to modern technologies, Mallorca is painted in a variety of colors: yellow, black, pink. They imitate expensive and rare varieties of natural cultivated stone (blue, for example), and paint the balls in colors unusual for the mineral, applying gold or silver.
Silver ring SL with cubic zirconia and pearls (go to the SUNLIGHT catalogue)
Ready-made pearl beads are strung on strong threads. A piece of jewelry containing Majorca stone can be complemented with Swarovski crystals and metal elements. Ready-made necklaces and bracelets are sold all over the world and are highly valued.
Other ways to imitate pearls
People learned to counterfeit real stones a long time ago. Already in the 15th century, “Roman pearls” were known, which were made from glass balls filled with paraffin. In China, they still use “pearl essence” - an extract of fish scales that has a pearlescent sheen. To fix it on the surface of the glass, the colored balls were baked in muffle furnaces. After applying several layers, the fake pearls were ready.
In the 20th century, the “shell pearl” technology appeared: beads were milled from a thick mother-of-pearl layer of shells, and they were coated with varnish to add shine. The imitation made from natural material was relatively cheap, and faux pearl beads became fashionable on the American continent.
Currently, in addition to imitation, improvement of low-quality natural pearls is also used. For this purpose, tinting and irradiation are used. Cheap yellow pearls can be turned into more valuable brown and dark ones (petrol, eggplant and various shades of blue). Very valuable and rare black pearls can be obtained by irradiating ordinary low-quality stones with X-rays or neutrons. The demand for such varieties is much higher, and it is more profitable for jewelry manufacturers to sell goods at a higher price.
Who is suitable according to their zodiac sign?
Gold-plated ring with pearls and cubic zirconia
To determine who pearls are suitable for, you should pay attention to astrological compatibility. First of all, these are people of the water element, i.e. Cancers, Scorpios and Pisces. The gem has a special connection with Cancers. It helps them become stronger in spirit and helps them identify their strengths. It is believed that pearls relieve this zodiac sign from shyness and ease fears. It is best to use white, blue-white, creamy pink or pink stones.
According to the zodiac signs, pearls also strongly favor Pisces. It helps them become more attentive and less impulsive. Extremely useful when making difficult decisions and starting a family. Silver, green, and blue varieties are most suitable for Pisces. Decoration can also have a positive effect on other zodiac signs:
- Taurus. Allows you to restrain your emotions and avoid conflicts. Increases attentiveness to the feelings of others. It is recommended to choose cream, cream-pink, gold or green colored gems.
- Aquarius. It is a good amulet that will warn the owner if necessary. Helps you achieve success in your career and fulfill your dreams. Suitable shades are purple, eggplant, blue, black.
- Twins. Protects from negative influences from others. The amulet also allows you to overcome inconsistency. It is better to choose colors such as white-blue, cream, blue or champagne.
- Scorpios. The relationship between the amulet and the owner will be contradictory. Therefore, you need to wear the gem with special care. Only pearls of dark shades can be used. The ideal option would be gasoline.
- Virgos. Useful if the owner has a strong will. Then he is able to protect him from dangerous situations and help him make difficult decisions. However, it is still better to choose stones with a softer effect (white-pink, cream-pink, white-blue).
- Capricorns. Helps develop speed of thinking, maintains internal balance. The amulet improves the outburst of emotions, which promotes peace. The best options would be silver, white, black, blue and green varieties.
- Sagittarius. The amulet can harm such a wearer. It should be used only during difficult life situations. It will help you find a solution, maintain composure and clarity of mind. Only black and silver pearls are suitable for this.
Leos and Aries should avoid this stone. It can cause repeated failures and deterioration in mental and physical health. Leos may wear gold and pink stones with caution.
Are there freshwater pearls?
The mollusks that produce the gemstone do not only live in salty seawater. There are many species of bivalves that live in the rivers of Europe, Russia and other countries. But the price of river pearls is much lower than that of sea treasures. Even cultured varieties of freshwater and saltwater pearls differ greatly in cost. This gives reason to doubt the naturalness of freshwater jewelry.
In fact, freshwater pearls are not fake pearls. The difference in price is explained by the costs of maintaining a pearl farm at sea and on the river. Otherwise, stone cultivation is similar.
The growth rate of river jewels is higher than that of sea mollusks. In addition, several shiny balls can form in the shell of freshwater inhabitants at once. This naturally affects the final cost of the product.
River pearls can be distinguished by several characteristics:
- freshwater varieties are often irregular in shape and form clumps;
- the shine of a river pearl is duller, matte compared to a sea stone;
- Depending on the place of extraction or cultivation, sea pearls come in different shades, but river pearls are always white.
You should not be afraid to purchase pearls of freshwater origin. Despite their relatively low price, they are just as true a mineral as the sea varieties. The magical properties of river pearls and the meaning of the stone do not differ from the abilities of a gem obtained from a sea farm. The whimsical shape of freshwater pearls is very successfully played out in jewelry.
Varieties and colors
The color of pearls varies: from white to light shades of pink, green, blue, and gold. There are gray, silver, rich green, black pearls.
The surface of the pearls only seems smooth. It is wavy, inhomogeneous, and light interferes with it. Therefore, on the pearl you can observe the play of color - from light yellow to pink and blue.
The color and shape of pearls depend on the type of shellfish, purity, salinity and temperature of the water.
Variety of shapes and colors of freshwater pearls
Types of natural pearls:
- River - small (diameter - up to 7 mm). White, yellowish, cream, grayish. Shape - from spherical to elliptical.
- “King” is large (up to 22 mm), with a thick layer of mother-of-pearl. Colors are different. Found in the southern seas.
- "Mabe" is very large. The shape is perfectly round. The color range is from silver to black.
Types of cultured pearls:
- "Tahiti" - medium size - up to 12 mm in diameter. Gray range - from silver to black.
- “Akoya” is larger (diameter up to 14 mm). Coloring in all colors except blue.
- "Kasumi" - Japanese pearls. Exotic color - from golden to purple.
Among the natural and cultivated gems, the following varieties are found:
- “Baroque” (baroque pearls) - characterized by irregular shapes. Small, up to 5 mm. Different shades: gray, white, cream.
- “Paragons” are unique pearls that resemble the silhouettes of a person, animal, or plant.
In addition to natural and cultured pearls, there are also artificial pearls - artificially grown or synthesized mother-of-pearl stones. They are always perfectly spherical.
Unusual properties of pearls
Natural pearls have healing and magical properties known since ancient times. According to legends, Queen Cleopatra maintained her youth and beauty by drinking a drink made from pearls dissolved in vinegar and mixed with milk. And the beauties of the Middle Ages used powder from ground mother-of-pearl balls for cosmetic purposes.
Gold necklace PRIMAEXCLUSIVE with pearls (go to the SUNLIGHT catalogue)
The ancient Russian treatise “Svyatoslav's Collection” claims that pearls ensure prosperity and longevity. To do this, it was recommended to crush them and consume them with milk. The general strengthening and healing properties of pearls were noted by both Indian healers and ancient Chinese doctors.
Thanks to the mineral, it was even possible to determine whether a person was sick. If a pearl jewelry suddenly lost its shine, changed color or was destroyed, an experienced healer could suspect some kind of disease. Modern science would associate this with a change in the chemical composition of the patient's sweat and skin secretions. The substance that makes up any pearl, calcium carbonate, easily interacts with acids and fats, losing strength or changing color and structure.
The Tibetan treatise on health, Zhud-shi, recommends using pearl powder as a hemostatic agent. The powder is also used to treat poorly healing wounds, burns and skin diseases. Drinking milk with the addition of this powder helps fight anemia.
Modern lithotherapists use pearl water prepared according to Ayurvedic recipes. It is credited with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It is recommended to take this infusion for fever, inflammation of various origins, liver and gallbladder diseases. This product should not completely replace medications and procedures prescribed by doctors. All the remedies of traditional healers are intended only to help in treatment.
Talismans, amulets, amulets
The magical properties of pearls were valued by ancient Roman emperors. They believed that talismans made from it strengthen power and make a person wiser.
Now it is believed that pearl talismans are more suitable for women, enhancing the gentleness of their character and maternal wisdom.
In Asian countries, pearl jewelry is traditionally used as amulets. They believe that if bad thoughts and intentions of other people are directed at the owner, the stone will darken and lose its color.
Other properties of pearl amulets:
- They relieve you from the torment of unrequited love.
- Help restore good relationships with others.
- Protect your home from thieves.
- Reduce the likelihood of losses when making business transactions.
- Helps avoid mood swings.
- Reduce and neutralize anxiety, helping to calmly perceive the environment.
For pearls to act as a talisman or amulet, you do not need to perform complex rituals. Just admiring the pearls is enough. The overflows on their surface pacify, calm a person, and harmonize feelings.
Natural mining sites
Pearls were also mined on the territory of Russia; in the Black Sea basin there were enough pearls to be used in jewelry. A wide variety of pearls are presented in museums and temples, where you can look at clothes, weapons and other things decorated with them. Today this deposit has been completely depleted; we can only hope for the restoration of old reserves.
Most of the deposits have long been depleted, the reason for this was active mining and the long period of birth of the pearl. Places where you can still catch pearls are protected in order to leave at least something for other generations.
Healing power
Natural sea pearls are a source of useful minerals, so they are actively used by lithotherapists for medicinal purposes as an effective healing agent. The art of stone healing appeared in China, India, and Tibet. Later, medicines made from pearls were supplied from eastern countries to European pharmacies.
Pearls, the properties of which can relieve many diseases, will help:
- strengthen the immune system, fight viruses and microbes;
- increase the vitality of the body;
- normalize blood pressure;
- restore damaged sectors of the nervous system;
- improve vision, prevent eye diseases;
- strengthen hair, nails, rejuvenate skin.
Pearls are an indicator of the owner’s health status. If the stone becomes dull, it signals the owner about illness, thereby giving a chance to resist health problems. It is recommended to consult a doctor and undergo a full examination.
The healing power of the gem is not in doubt
