The Pearl: June Birthstone
History, legend and gemstone lore
Pearls have
long been considered among the
most valuable items one could
possess. To this day a string
of matched natural pearls can
be considered priceless. Now nearly
all pearls are farmed, or cultured,
making them more widely available.
Source, Composition
and Jewelry Variety
Since natural
pearls are created by the chance
inclusion of a foreign object
in an oyster, their occurrence
was rare and locating them extremely
labor intensive. In 1896 the Japanese
patented the process of culturing
pearls by placing a small bead
into an oyster and letting it
grow into a pearl. Saltwater cultured
pearls are still produced using
this method in Japan and the South
Pacific. Freshwater cultured pearls
are grown in lakes and rivers
using freshwater mussels primarily
in China. Pearls are valued based
on their luster, color, size,
lack of surface flaws and symmetry.
Though natural color variations
occur, jewelry pearls are often
treated with dyes to even out
their color or produce other stronger
colors.
Buying Pearl
Jewelry
Most jewelers
will carry a selection of pearl
jewelry. Prices can vary widely
from less than one hundred to
thousands. You can find a wide
selection of Pearl jewelry and
other gemstone jewelry from reputable
jewelers and online jewelry stores.
Be sure to Compare Jewelry
Stores
For rare varieties
and unique gemstone jewelry it
may be best to find a specialty
custom jeweler who can source
fine gems and customize your jewelry. We
can help. You may also wish to try buying pearl jewelry (Sponsor Link) from a reputable online store which carries a variety of birthstone and gemstone jewelry.
