History of Pearl

History of Pearls

Pearl is one of the oldest gem in the world. As early as 2300 BC, Pearls were given to Chinese Emperor as gifts. Pearl Jewellery were also very popular in Rome. Pearl is the only gem that is formed out of a living thing. Pearls are made when a small irritant finds its way inside an oyster or mollusk. This can be a grain of sand/piece of shell but is more typically a little parasite. This cause it to secrete a crystalline substance called nacre, which builds up around the irritant in layers until a pearl is formed.

Types of Pearls

Pearls can be found in many shades, including pink and green, white and black are the most commonly colors. There also come in many different shapes from round, semi-round, pear, drop, button, baroque, oval and circle. Pearls can be found in freshwater or saltwater. South Sea pearls are usually harvested from Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. In recent years, Akoya pearls have also gained a lot of popularity, they can be found in saltwater. Tahitian pearls, the black pearls comes from Tahiti, hence the name. Freshwater pearls are much cheaper and are found in China.

As with gemstones, the quality of a pearl is determined by several criteria including its size, shape, colour and lustre. In general, the rounder the pearls, the more expensive the pearls. A good quality round pearl necklace can cost a lot more than a diamond necklace.

Caring for Pearl Jewellery

Pearls also require more care as compared to diamonds. Pearl jewellery should always be kept separate from other jewellery such as diamond, so that it does not get scratches. In a humid country such as Singapore, its also recommended to “air” your jewellery now and then. You can “air” your pearl jewellery by taking them out once in a while from their box, to allow them to breathe.

If you wear your pearl jewellery often, its good to always wipe them with a jewellery cloth after each use.  Its also a good habit to spray your perfume before wearing any jewellery, especially pearl jewellery. For Pearl necklace, its also wise to send it to your Jeweller to check every few years. This is to check if any re-stringing is needed.  These are some basic care you can do to maintain your pearl lusture.

Best Quote on Pearl 

Our favourite quotes on pearl –  “I feel undressed if I don’t have my pearls on. My pearls are my security blanket.” – Lady Sarah Churchill

With this quote, Lady Sarah Churchill perfectly conveys the way many women feel about their pearl jewellery. The simple, mesmerizing beauty of the gemstone makes you want to wear them every single day, often becoming your favorite piece of jewelry.