TOP 8 facts about pearls - a precious mineral for virgins

Changeable fashion is sometimes surprisingly constant. And this most certainly applies to pearls. As the famous Coco Chanel once said, pearls are always right! And, I must say, I was not mistaken. For the third century now, pearls have not gone out of fashion: only the style and form of its decoration changes. Today it appears in different guises: as a status decoration for top officials; family heirloom; glamorous celebrity accessory; budget jewelry.

Pearls are not perfect and are finicky to wear; they need to be cherished and learned to wear. But it is precisely in this delicacy that lies the alluring attractiveness that makes millions of women fall in love with him.

Each pearl is fraught with many amazing facts that you may not even have guessed. Take a fresh look at your favorite pearl jewelry! Top 7 amazing facts about pearls in a new article from YK.

The rarest in the world

The birth of a pearl is an amazing process that requires a lot of time and suitable conditions. Therefore, natural pearls are very rare.

According to statistics, in the natural environment there is only 1 pearl per 10,000 wild mollusks!

At the beginning of the 20th century, due to the barbaric scale of pearl fishing in the ocean, entire populations of pearl shells were destroyed. They have not yet been fully restored. Even on farms where the shells live in ideal conditions, not all shellfish produce pearls.

Fact 5: Pearls are the only gemstone that is extracted from living organisms

Pearls are formed in the shells of mollusks. / Photo: Zen.yandex.ru

Pearls are the fruit of the vital activity of living beings. Its formation is a protective reaction of the mollusk to a foreign body that has entered the mantle. Although classified as a precious stone, pearls are significantly different from other specimens that form in the earth's crust when magma cools under pressure.

Pearl farms

Today, 95% of pearls are grown on special pearl farms. When harvesting pearls, the mollusk remains alive because small balls are re-implanted into it, which then turn into pearls.

The birth of a pearl takes from 6 months to 12 years. Its development is influenced by the water condition, size and type of mollusk. It takes approximately 5 years to form an average-sized pearl.

Did you know that...

The profession of “pearl diver” still exists in Southeast Asia. A catcher without equipment must dive to a depth of about 30 meters!

Fact 7: Pearl tribute was collected in ancient China

Chinese Emperor Yu introduced pearl tribute. / Photo: Harvardmagazine.com

In ancient China, it was believed that pearls fell from heaven (and, apparently, fell directly into the hands of the rulers and their entourage). It was not only a symbol of wisdom, but also one of the most beloved stones of emperors. There is an opinion that the name of the mineral comes from the Chinese “zhen-gzhu”.

In China, pearls have always been an attribute of power and high status. A pearl attached to a headdress symbolized the high position of its owner. And the Chinese Emperor Yu considered the precious material the most valuable offering, which is why he introduced pearl tribute in the state. The mineral even managed to play the role of currency: in Ancient China it was customary to pay for the most expensive and large purchases.

Does not require cutting

Pearl is the only natural mineral that does not require cutting or additional processing. A real gift for jewelers! Pearls are so self-sufficient that they are used in jewelry without additional “decorations”.

Instead of cutting, craftsmen create frames with interesting effects (reflections) that create the feeling of edges on mother-of-pearl.

HEALING AND MAGICAL PROPERTIES

Pearls are almost entirely composed of minerals. This determines its exceptional healing value.

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According to legends, Queen Cleopatra kept a pearl in a glass of wine to maintain extraordinary beauty and youth.

Therapeutic effects

Since ancient times, peoples have infused water on a stone or ground it into powder and dissolved it. In the future, the liquid must be drunk to saturate the human body with minerals.

Manufacturers of cosmetics often use this ingredient in cosmetics care series. Pearls ground into powder are valuable for cleansing the face.

In addition to its beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, the stone cures diseases:

• digestive system;
• genitourinary system;
• of cardio-vascular system;
• dental nature;
• mucosal lesions.

Akoya

Magic and symbolism

In the modern world, a pearl is a symbol of purity, love and fidelity.

• In Buddhism, pearls are a symbol of purity of intentions, the essence of the universe, spiritual consciousness.
• In China, a pearl represents the feminine principle, a good sign, and immortality.
• In Ancient Greece, the pearl was considered a symbol of Aphrodite, who emerged from the sea foam. She embodied the power of water, femininity and the cosmic principle, as well as innocence, purity, modesty and perfection.
• In Christianity, pearls symbolize salvation and baptism, the metaphorical meaning is the finger of the power of God, for the sake of which a person must dive into the baptized waters.

The stone is endowed with magical properties:

• It is considered protection from otherworldly forces, the evil eye, and old age.
• Has a rejuvenating effect.
• To protect the bride on her wedding day, the groom's relatives presented her with a string of pearls. The ritual was supposed to protect against bad thoughts and actions that could negatively affect the honor of the young family.

It is believed that a mineral can belong to only one owner. It is bad form to pass on pearl jewelry through generations.

The stone is saturated with the energy of its owner, which can negatively affect its new owner.

Mabe

Non-ideal forms

There are no two perfectly round and symmetrical pearls. Each one is unique in its own way.

There are 8 shapes of pearls: button, drop, pear, oval, semicircle, circle, irregular shape (baroque or baroque pearl) and sphere. The latter are more valuable than regular round ones, precisely because of their bizarre shape.

A rare type of baroque pearl - Paragon pearls. In appearance they resemble various parts of the human body, silhouettes of animals.

Fact 8: If a pearl dries out, it will spoil

Pearl jewelry should be washed in soapy water. / Photo: Yargeo.com

Despite the fact that the pearl itself is very strong, it can deteriorate if it is not properly cared for or storage conditions are not followed. The fact is that pearls contain water (only 5%, but still), and if the owner does not ensure that the jewelry is in a humid environment, over time it will lose its beauty and value. The ideal storage place for pearl jewelry is the bathroom.

However, not all pearls do not tolerate dryness well. During expeditions into the desert, archaeologists found specimens that were thousands of years old, but they looked simply amazing. It is not completely known what this is connected with.

White color is not a “business card”

White pearls are not the most common, as many may think.

The color range of artificial pearls includes all shades of white and cream (silver-white, cream-gold), as well as peach, deep black, purple, brown, green, and blue. There are more than 30 colors in total!

The main highlight of the color is the smooth tints in the light (“orient” effect).

Pink Conch pearls are considered the rarest. It cannot be cultured because the mollusk dies after opening the shell. The cost of one pearl can reach up to $120,000!

Fact 4: The price of a pearl depends on the owner

Elizabeth Taylor and Coco Chanel

To determine the value of pearls, several factors must be taken into account:

• Firstly, the color - it should be perfectly pure without any inclusions.

• Secondly, shape and symmetry - a perfectly round pearl is considered the rarest, and therefore the most valuable. Also not least is drop-shaped pearls.

• Thirdly, reflectivity – high-quality pearls should reflect light perfectly. As you know, diamonds shine only after they have been cut and polished. But pearls do not require preliminary work.

• Fourthly, belonging to a famous person - Coco Chanel comes to mind first. The fashion designer was contemptuous of jewelry, considering it boring, but she adored pearls and said that he was always right. A string of pearls that belonged to Chanel now costs about 400 thousand dollars. Another famous piece of jewelry belonged to Elizabeth Taylor in the 20th century - the Peregrine Pearl, weighing 56 carats. After the actress's death, the jewelry was bought at auction for $11.8 million.

This is interesting: Pierre Cartier bought a luxurious house on Fifth Avenue for $100 and a string of pearls. At that time, the price of the jewelry was one million dollars (approximately $25,000,000 today).

His Majesty!

For a long time, not a single royal wedding was complete without pearls. Monarchs and nobles used pearls to decorate their ceremonial clothes. There was even such a concept - “power pearl” (pearls as an element of the style of power).

At the baptism ceremony of her son Louis XIII, Marie de Medici was present in a dress embroidered with pearls. It took 30,000 beads to decorate it!

A famous fan of mother-of-pearl earrings was Cleopatra, and necklaces were Queen Elizabeth I. The latter wore 7 strands of beads with pearls.

Did you know that...

The largest pearl in the world is the Philippine “Pearl of Allah”. Her weight is about 6.3 kilograms!

WHAT COLOR ARE PEARLS?

The color of the mineral varies from light to intensely dark shades, with white being the main one. A pure white pearl cannot be found in nature; various impurities and inclusions add shades:

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White pearls

The traditional color of the mineral is white, but to some it may appear creamy.

• Cream pearls symbolize purity and elegance, sincerity of thoughts.
• One of the most purchased and popular shades.
• Historically, it was customary to give white pearl jewelry to the bride on her wedding day.
• According to legend, the stone will bring happiness to a young family; love will not fade away until old age.

White pearls

Pink pearl

The mineral can have different shades - from soft pink to intense purple.

• Pink pearl stone symbolizes youth and youth.
• Jewelry with pink pearls will be a great gift for a young princess.
• Symbolizes grace, spontaneity, freshness and sophistication.

Pink pearl

Lilac pearl

• Shimmering under different types of lighting, the gem changes color.
• Shades range from light to intensely dark.
• Ideal for summer outfits, it adds brightness to the image and confidence of the owner.

Lilac pearl

Golden pearls

The rare shade of pearls affects the cost. Gold-colored mineral jewelry is only available to very wealthy buyers. Symbolizes luxury and wealth.

Golden pearls

Black Pearl

Since ancient times, the discovery of black pearls has caused fear and joy: the stone was credited with special magical properties.

• It is rare to find an exclusively black specimen. Usually the mineral has a hue: blue, green, indigo or violet.
• The island of Tahiti is considered the birthplace of black pearls.
• Symbolizes confidence, sexuality, firmness of decisions.
• The rarity of a mineral affects its value. Black pearl jewelry is intended for wealthy ladies. For a jeweler, it is a valuable material due to its versatility in shades and many options for use.

Black Pearl

Pearl is always right!

This is what the legendary Coco Chanel said 60 years ago and introduced the fashion for pearls. It was she who made pearls the most democratic decoration that goes with any clothing. With her light hand, pearls began to be worn not only with a little black dress, but also with a black sweater and jacket.

The composition of jewelry with pearls looks harmonious in the context of strict classics and extravagant modern fashion, where whimsical design and a mixture of styles, colors and textures are encouraged.

Today, Baroque-shaped stones with an uneven surface, hoop earrings with unusually shaped stones, and open-ended jewelry are in fashion.

Fact 1: Pearls were first used in ancient civilizations

Pearl earrings from Ancient Rome. / Photo: Tr.pinterest.com

For the first time, pearls were used as decoration in Chinese, Greek, Roman, and Assyrian civilizations. But the Egyptians bypassed it - they were famous for making necklaces, bracelets, and rings from other precious materials. Now archaeologists are constantly finding new pearl jewelry and after research it turns out that one is older than the other. For example, in Qatar (a state in the Middle East) there are products that are approximately 5,000 years old. And in one of the Japanese museums there is a pearl jewelry that was found 10,000 years ago.

The Persian Gulf is considered the historical birthplace of pearls. However, there are deposits of the mineral in Venezuela. Christopher Columbus first learned about this during his journey. It happened like this: the navigator stopped on one of the coasts of South America, and when he was preparing a dinner consisting of oysters on the fire, he discovered a pearl inside it. After this discovery, pearl production increased several times.

Physico-chemical characteristics of pearls

The pearl consists of three layers: periostracum (outer organic), middle and inner (nacreous).
They are based on calcium carbonate. The shape of the pearl varies from completely irregular to perfectly spherical. The hardness of pearls on the Mohs scale is 3.5-4. Specific gravity 2.61-2.69. It is opaque and can be painted in different colors.

How to care for pearls

Due to their organic origin, pearls are quite short-lived.
It swells in water, and when it dries, it crumbles and disintegrates. It is poorly affected by acids and cosmetics. Under their influence, color and shine are lost. Pearls gradually age, their “life” is about 100-150 years. In order to preserve its beauty, the stone is cleaned with salt water at least twice a year. If the pearl has lost its shine, then you can dissolve the top layer in acid and get a beautiful stone again.

Pearls in religion and history

...With their radiance they are similar to transparent, sparkling drops of dew that have absorbed the sun's rays...

Pearls have always been perceived as something precious and pure. Mentions of it are found in the Bible and the Koran. In the Gospel there is a parable about a merchant who gave up his wealth for the sake of a pearl, symbolizing true spiritual knowledge. Thanks to this veneration, the best pearls were used to decorate various religious attributes. They decorated altars, icons and robes of clergy.

In ancient books preserved in China and India, it is written that pearls were of high value five thousand years ago. We also find mentions of him in ancient writings discovered during excavations in Persia.

He was highly regarded in our country as well. In ancient times, pearl-bearing mollusks were found in many rivers. In Rus' it was used to create various jewelry, as well as for embroidery and finishing of clothes and shoes.

Despite its fragility and fragility, pearls remain a popular and favorite decoration among many people today.

How to distinguish real pearls from fakes

The most well-known way to distinguish artificial pearls from real ones is to run them along the surface of the teeth.
Only a true pearl makes a creak in this case. In addition, a fake made of plastic will be very light, the surface of glass will be too smooth, and the color, when magnified, will be uneven and spotty.

It should also be taken into account that in order to refine low-quality pearls, they are tinted or irradiated. Lapis and other dyes are used for coloring. In this case, the coloring often turns out spotty and uneven. After irradiation, the pearl becomes black with a metallic sheen.

Who suits pearls according to their zodiac sign?

Pearls are best suited for the signs of Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio. It brings them health, luck and prosperity. Reveals creativity and gives peace of mind. It is worn in a silver or gold frame on the ring finger, and also on the neck in the form of a pendant or beads. The gem must be in contact with the skin to have a beneficial effect. To find out what your rising sign is, write your date, time and place of birth in the comments.

Gems for Cancer

Here you will learn how to distinguish real pearls from fake ones.

And also about the different forms of pearls and the reasons for changing their shape.

Prices for pearl products

A sea pearl bead or necklace is valued at $450. If the beads are uneven or irregularly shaped, the price is reduced to $250. Pearl bracelets cost about $100. A silver ring with one pearl can be purchased for 15-20 dollars. The cost of freshwater pearls is usually half that.

The tradition of Faberge Easter eggs is alive!

Continuing the story about pearls and the ideas of Carl Faberge, it is impossible to ignore an interesting event that recently happened at a jewelry and watch exhibition in Doha, the capital of the Emirate of Qatar. Almost a century after the death of the legendary master, his jewelry house exhibited the “Pearl” Easter egg here.

The masterpiece is carved from a piece of rock crystal, decorated with enamel, mother-of-pearl, white and yellow gold, diamonds and other precious stones (3,305 pieces in total). The main decoration of the Easter egg was 139 white pearls mined in the Persian Gulf and given to the jewelers by one of the partners of the House of Fabergé - the Al-Fardan family of collectors. According to press reports, the “Pearl” egg was bought by one of the members of the royal dynasty of Qatar for $2 million.