Another birthstone for June is the pearl.
The
scientific explanation for natural pearls starts with an irritant, such as a small parasite or a fish that lodges
in the flesh of an oyster, mussel, or clam, a protective substance
called "nacre" is produced. Over years, layer upon layer of shimmering
nacre coats the intruder, creating a lustrous pearl. Natural pearls are
relatively rare.
Because of this, a process was created in which a piece of shell or bead
was placed inside a mollusk to stimulate the production of nacre. This
results in a cultured pearl, which accounts for about 90 per cent of
the pearl industry.
Divers
find natural pearls in The Persian Gulf as well as in the waters off
Japan, the South Pacific Islands off northern Australia, and the coasts
of Panama, Venezuela, and California. Most of the cultured pearl
industry is in Japanese and Australian coastal waters. These gems come
in a variety of colors, from pure white to pink, yellow, gray and
black. They also come in different shapes and sizes.
Pearls have been a passion and even an obsession of people throughout the ages. They
have been ground up and used in cosmetics and as a medicine to treat
heart and stomach conditions. Some cultures swear by pearls as an
aphrodisiac. These gems have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples,
and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra.
Only those
with royal status once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually these gems
were seen among all classes of people. They continue to be viewed as a
mark of taste and refinement as well as a symbol of purity, and they are
often given to celebrate a marriage or the birth of a child.
Ancient civilizations had many
stories to explain the origin of June's birthstone, such as the Greek
belief that pearls were the hardened tears of joy that the goddess of
love shook from her eyes as she was born from the sea. According to
Arab legend, pearls were formed when oysters were lured from the depths
of the ocean by the beautiful moon and then swallowed moonlit dewdrops.
And the Ancient Chinese thought that these gems originated from the
brains of
dragons.
Pearls
are nature's perfect gift, suitable for all ages, and elegantly worn
with everything from jeans to an evening gown.
(This information is from the website, About Birthstones, http://www.about-birthstones.com)
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