Pearls are no doubt a very recognizable and popular gemstone, but what is the history behind this precious gem? Pearls have been noted in the history books for thousands of years and made their imprint on old royal society. There is a lot more to pearls however that what meets the eye. Just about everyone knows that pearls are created by oysters but what people may not know is just how diverse this gemstone is.

First of all, the pearl is the only gemstone created by a living organism. Every other stone known to man is created by the earth and minerals. The pearl however, is created by a unique relationship between organism and parasite. When a parasite or a grain of sand comes in contact with the inner part of the oyster, the oyster reacts. It coats the irritant over and over again with a "pearly" substance. Here in lies the birth of a natural pearl.

This process is rare in nature, thus the incredibly high cost of natural pearls. To keep up with consumer demand, the cultured pearl was created by man. There really isn't much difference in a cultured pearl except that instead of the parasite coming to the oyster naturally, it is forcefully introduced to help speed up the process. If the cultured pearl is of high quality, it is very difficult to tell the difference between it and a natural pearl with the naked eye.

Creating cultured pearls is still no easy process. It takes surgeon-like precision to open a live oyster and place the irritant correctly. Once this is done, the oysters are returned to the sea where they are kept in protected bays. They oysters are kept in suspended nets beneath the water and are cared for around the clock. Water temperatures are tested, bacteria is removed; all to make sure these oysters grow their pearls. After many months of care, the oysters are harvested and opened to reveal their iridescent creation.

The creation process of pearls is one that eluded the brightest minds until the turn of the twentieth century. Because of their mysterious beginnings, pearls were often worn as a symbol of wealth and power. Over the centuries, pearls came to symbolize many things such as purity and femininity. Pearls were also often used to help ward off evil spirits and thought to aid in curing illness.

Pearls are noted throughout history, in the bible and are the subject of many myths across every religion and culture. Not only were pearls associated with wealth but also with love and marriage. There are many stories of pearl jewelry taking center stage at weddings or used to prove affection for someone like Cleopatra did for Marc Antony. It is said that she dissolved a pearl in a glass of wine and drank it to prove her love for him.

Scientists nowadays may know more about where pearls come from but that does not diminish their desirability. Pearls are still very much in high demand and are still synonymous with love. They are still often the jewelry of choice for a bride on her wedding day or given as a wedding gift. While many of the myths of the pearl's mysterious powers may have been debunked, women still seek to include this gemstone in their jewelry collection. The solid and diverse history of this precious gem makes it one of the most sought after jewel even thousands of years after its original discovery.



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