June birthstone: the pearl

Birthstone: June

Freshwater pearl

While diamonds and other gemstones have only been in fashion for the last five or six hundred years, pearls have been loved for their understated beauty for 6,000 years. Pearls were harvested by pearl divers at the risk of their lives and were extremely rare. Only the very wealthiest could afford the beauty of the pearl. The pearl is one of the nine gemstones in the Thai order of the nine gemstones.

History of the pearl

Pearls have long been used in jewelry and clothing. Pearls have been found at various archaeological sites, showing that people in ancient Egypt and during the Roman era were already familiar with them. The pearls from that period are all ‘natural pearls’. This means that they were produced naturally by molluscs. Since most pearls are now farmed in pearl farms, natural pearls are now essentially only found in antique jewelry. Examples of cultured pearls are Akoya and Tahitian pearls. Cultured pearls grow in freshwater mussels and consist entirely of nacre. The colors of freshwater pearls are white, cream, and soft pink.

Pearls in fashion

At the beginning of the last century, pearls were hugely popular, but they gradually fell out of fashion in the sixties and seventies. The classic pearl necklace remained a cherished piece of jewellery for many women, but it acquired an old-fashioned image. This image changed dramatically in the nineties. Pearls are now back in fashion. Every film star wears them, and a bride who doesn't wear pearls is almost an exception. Pearls have shaken off their stuffy reputation, and the modern way they are worn today has shown that they look just as good with jeans as with a classic tailored suit. What's more, pearls can be perfectly combined with any colour! So you can never go wrong with a pearl necklace.

The love of pearls in art

As mentioned before, pearls have been loved for a very long time. This can be seen in art. For example, there are many paintings in which members of the nobility are portrayed wearing pearls. There is also a famous painting by Johannes Vermeer named after the pearl depicted in it: Girl with a Pearl Earring.

Pretty in pearls

Voor dagelijks gebruik is een subtiel collier met kleine parels of een enkele parel perfect. Heb je een wat chiquere gelegenheid? Een dubbele collier met meerdere lagen parels is hiervoor erg geschikt. Zo combineerde Angelina Jolie haar driedubbele parel collier met een witte jurk met zwart kant tijdens het Venice Film Festival in 2009. Parels gecombineerd met diamanten en andere edelstenen zorgen voor een verrassend en oogverblindend effect.

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

BIRTHSTONES

About the stone of the month

Gemstones have been worn as jewelry for decades. It is therefore interesting to learn about the history behind the stone. Many cultures and individuals also attribute magical powers to gemstones. They serve as talismans and are said to improve or protect your life. Furthermore, if you wear the stone that matches your birth month or zodiac sign, its effect is even more powerful. Different properties are also attributed to each type of stone that suit the person born in that month. It is therefore extra fun to choose a gemstone that enhances your character, or that of the person for whom it is a gift. The freshwater pearl belongs to the month of June and is also a perfect gift for a 30th wedding anniversary.

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