Pearls have been a popular choice in jewellery for centuries. These gemstones used to be more popular than diamonds, but when diamonds were first discovered they were cheaper than pearls. This led pearls to have a decline in popularity. However, these stunning gemstones have made a significant comeback recently and are becoming a huge trend in the jewellery industry. Pearls are a fascinating gemstone as they are not mined from the Earth like other gems, making them much more rare. If you are interested in pearls, keep reading for our list of 10 interesting facts about pearls.
1. Pearls come from a living creature, rather than being mined from the ground.
Most gemstones are formed in the Earth’s crust and mined from the ground. However, pearls are unusual as they come from a living creature. The gemstones often form in oysters. The oyster itself can be consumed as food. Also, the shells produce mother of pearl that is used in the creation of jewellery and can often be found on watch dials.
2. Pearls are formed when a tiny piece of sand gets inside the shell of a mollusc.
Even the tiniest grain of sand can cause a pearl to be produced. Pearls can be produced by oysters and mussels. A grain of sand will enter the shell and a substance called nacre is secreted to surround it. The creature inside the shell is soft and vulnerable, so must protect itself from the abrasive sand. As layers of nacre build around the grain of sand, the pearl forms.
3. Naturally formed pearls are incredibly rare.
Only 1 in 10,000 wild oysters contain pearls, making them very rare and difficult to find. However, pearls can be artificially cultivated to meet the demand from the jewellery market. This happens so frequently that it is thought that only 1% of pearls used in jewellery are natural.
4. The most expensive pearl is valued at $100 million.
This pearl was found by a Filipino fisherman who discovered it inside a clam. The fisherman took the gemstone home and hid it under his bed, treating it as a good luck charm. The man’s house burnt down, but the pearl survived. It was found and measured to be 26 inches in length and 5 stone in weight. It was valued at the astronomical price of $100 million.
5. The first pearl dates back to over 7500 years ago.
This ancient pearl was discovered in a gravesite in the United Arab Emirates in 2012. It was found in a Neolithic Marawah excavation site in Umm al Quwain. Scientists used carbon dating to work out its age and placed it as being 7500 years old. The pearl only measures one third of a centimetre wide.
6. There are four types of pearl and they all have different characteristics.
Freshwater pearls are the most common, making them the most affordable kind of pearl. The Japanese Akoya pearl is the most well established kind. It has a unique shine and a distinctly spherical shape. Tahitian pearls tend to be found in French Polynesia and are often referred to as black pearls. They come in stunning shades of grey, purple, blue and green. The final kind of pearl, the South Sea Pearl, is the largest variety.
7. There is a popular myth that Cleopatra used pearls to win a bet.
The story says that Cleopatra made a bet with Marc Anthony that she could host the most expensive dinner in history. She was the proud owner of two of the largest pearls in existence, which she enjoyed wearing as earrings. Cleopatra asked her servants to bring her the strongest vinegar they could find. She dissolved one of the pearls in the vinegar, and served it as a cocktail, winning the bet.
8. Pearl jewellery dates back to 520BC.
The earliest piece of pearl jewellery was found in the sarcophagus of a Persian Princess. It was discovered that it dates back to 520BC. The item found was a beaded pearl necklace that consists of 216 pearls in total. It is currently on display at The Louvre, Paris.
9. Historically, pearls were associated with mourning.
In Victorian and Georgian times, pearls were thought to symbolise tears, and were therefore deeply associated with mourning. The gemstones were popularly worn by widows and were used in mourning jewellery.
10. The most famous pearl is named La Peregrina.
The pearl’s name translates to ‘The Incomparable’. It was found in the Americas. It is a pear-shaped stone that is around the size of a pigeon egg. This pearl has been passed down through the hands of some of the most famous names in history. It has been owned by Mary Tudor of England, Phillip II of Spain and Napoleon III. Apparently, its most recent owner was Elizabeth Taylor, who famously loved expensive and extravagant jewellery.
If you are interested in adding pearls to your jewellery collection, click here to browse pearl jewellery on our website.
What are your thoughts on our 10 interesting facts about pearl jewellery? Do you know any other fascinating ones? Let us know in the comments below!
