No one knows when pearls were first discovered but many believe it was long before recorded history. Pearls are unlike any other precious gemstones because they need no enhancements such as cutting or polishing to help admire their captivating beauty. Pearls were the first truly prized gems because of their beauty and rarity.
Fine pearl jewelry used to be the exclusive right of nobility. As with many things, this changed with the arrival of a new idea. A method was discovered to coax oysters into making fine pearl pendant and the market was changed forever. However, even with all our advancements in technology, we still have to rely on the touch of Mother Nature to get the job done. Even today, only a very small percentage of cultivated oysters will turn out a fine pearl. The hand of man and of science still only play a small part in the making of a fine pearl. So much is still a mystery, adding to the mystique of the pearl.
Truly one of a kind. Pearls embody those words in every facet of their being. Every pearl is a unique creation of its oyster. Each individual oyster determines the lustrousness, smoothness, color, and shape of its pearls. Even a minute change in water temperature or any one of many factors can affect the fragile oyster and the treasure that grows within it. This rarity and unpredictability is part of what draws us to the allure of the freshwater pearl pendant and makes it one of the most valuable gems on the planet.
Ancient Hindu writings refer to pearls as bringing longevity and prosperity. The writings also tell an ancient story of Krishna who brought pearls to give to his daughter as a gift on her wedding day. This Hindu story is one of the earliest known accounts of pearls and the wedding experience.
The ancient Greeks also believed pearls should be a part of the wedding. They thought pearls would bring love and all guests of the wedding were adorned in pearls. Pearls were sacred wedding gems given as gifts and the word “pearl” became highly associated with “love.”
Pearl jewelry are also referenced to in religious writings. Pearls are associated with high value and reverence in early Christian writings of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Pearls are also found in Jewish literature where pearls are used as metaphors to compare things with very high regard.