|
|
 |
PEARL HISTORY & THE SYMBOLISM OF PEARLS:
The world’s most natural gemstone is a pearl which comes from mollusks that grow in oceans, lakes, and streams. Today, the cultured pearl is truly in a class of its own and rivals fine diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies. While other gemstones are mined from the earth, cut and polished, a pearl’s size, color, shape, and luster are born from water. The pearl is truly “the diamond of the sea”.
Pearls were considered by early civilizations to have magical powers because they mysteriously developed from inside a living creature under water. Throughout history, pearls continued to be renowned symbols of purity, love, sensuality, devotion, wealth, and natural beauty.
Pearls captivated both women and men with its brilliant luster and were regularly sought after by the rulers of Rome, ancient India, and China. Hindus viewed pearls as signs of prosperity and long life. Early Christians revered pearls with admiration and value. The Greeks associated pearls with beauty, love and marriage, while knights in the Dark Ages wore pearls into battle for good luck, and European royalty wore pearls as a sign of nobility.
By the 17th century, natural pearls were almost completely depleted due to the overwhelming demand; however, refined techniques to culture pearls in the early 1900’s revitalized the pearl industry. Because of modern advances in cultivating pearls, there is more variety and availability of pearls than ever before.
Back to Pearl Education Menu
|
|
|
|
