Folklore of the Pearl, June's Birthstone

Cultured or freshwater pearls are considered to offer the power of love, money, protection, and luck.

Pearls are thought to give wisdom through experience, to quicken the laws of karma and to cement engagements and love relationships. They are thought to keep children safe.

The Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed women from crying.

Ancient Greek mythology taught that pearls were the hardened “tears of joy” that came from the eyes of Aphrodite, their “goddess of love” (much later known to the Romans as Venus) as she was born, rising out of the seas on the giant half shell of a magnificent oyster.  They also believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed women from crying.

Arabian legend tells us that pearls were formed when oysters were seductively lured up from the depths of the ocean floor by the beautiful moon where they then swallowed moonlit dewdrops that became pearls.

Throughout Asia, pearls were revered as dewdrops from heaven that solidified when they fell into the sea. They were caught by shellfish under the first rays of the rising sun, during a period of a full moon.

Ancient Chinese folklore taught that pearls grew inside the brains of mighty dragons and that they fell from the sky when they fought.

For ages, many Christian scholars referred to the pearl as a symbolic “archetype” representation of Christ, coming into the world under the most humble and lowly of circumstances to bring luminescent light and joy into the world.

Only those with royal status once wore pearl jewelry.  These gems have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples, and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra.

(Information shared from Bernadine Fine Art Jewelry and The Pearl Outlet.)

Take the Challenge

I've decided to challenge myself and list a new item in my jewelry shop everyday. That maybe a bit difficult at times depending on how busy I am but I'm going to do it. What inspired me was reading about another Etsy artist that set up that goal for herself. And she was able to complete it! So here I go.

The first day of my challenge, I listed this necklace, "Eternity with Pearls."

And yesterday, I listed this necklace, "Silver and Pearls."


I seem to be having a thing with freshwater pearls right now. I just love silver and white pearls together. They have such a clean look.

So for today, I'm not sure what I will post. But there will be another new piece so stop by and have a look. For that matter, stop by now and again this month and you may find something you like for yourself.

Pearls and Pearl Care

This is an article I have submitted to Ezine Articles to possibly be published on their website. Ezine Articles is a publication directory for articles on all sorts of topics. Just wanted to share what I was up to.

Classic white pearls are a must fashion accessory for every woman's wardrobe. They are so versatile that they can be worn for any formal affair to create an elegant look , or worn casually with jeans and a simple blouse. They are complimented nicely with sterling silver or gold, and combine well with an assortment of other gemstones. In nature, you can find pearls in shades of pink, brown or black. And now you can purchase pearls in an assortment of colors and finishes. Metallic finishes are currently very popular. They give pearls a brilliant shine and an iridescent look.

How a Pearl is Formed

A pearl is produced as a mollusk secretes layers of nacre or mother-of-pearl around an irritant. If the irritant is a natural grit or sand that makes it's way into the mollusk, the pearl is a natural pearl and is rare and expensive. If the irritant is placed inside the mollusk by human intervention, it is considered a cultured pearl. Layers of nacre gradually build up over years and form a spherical, oblong, or irregular shaped pearl depending on the original shape of the irritant. The thicker the nacre, the more durable the pearl.

Tips for How to Clean Pearls

Pearls are delicate and brittle no matter how thick the nacre. With proper care they can last between 100-150 years. The best way to clean pearls is:

* to dust them off and wipe them with a damp cloth.
* never clean them with harsh chemicals, including jewelry cleaners, or a sonic cleaner.
* take off your pearl jewelry when you apply make-up, perfume, or lotion on your hands
* if they do get dirty, they can be washed with a mild solution of soap and water.


The surface of a pearl can also scratch easily so how you store your pearls is important also. Try not to store them with other jewelry that may damage the surface.

Finally..........New Jewelry to Share

Sorry I've been away so long. Since coming back from vacation, I have been regrouping and slowing down a little since it is summer. I started taking photos again yesterday. I need to take a lot more to share my jewelry and lots of goodies for my bead store.

This is one of my latest. This pendant is wire wrapped, all in sterling silver wire. The pearls are freshwater and are 4-5mm in size. The red briolette is a ruby and is 14x14mm or 1/2" by 1/2" . The whole pendant measures 2 1/4" long by 1 1/2" wide.




I like how the ruby is centered like a heart, surrounded by the pretty pearls. This is my original design and was lots of fun to make.

June's Birthstone, Pearl

I seem to be running a bit behind again with my birthstone articles. I did start this in June but as you can see, it did not get finished till now.

While looking up information on June's birthstone, I came upon 3 gems for the month: the pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. The pearl and moonstone are considered "modern birthstones" in the U.S. The list for these stones came from the American National Association of Jewelers, the Jewelers of America, in 1912. Alexandrite is considered June's birthstone from the "traditional" list of birthstones complied from ancient cultures. For the purpose of this article, I will start with information about the pearl.

I have written about the pearl and pearl care before so I will try to be brief here. Pearls are not really considered a gemstone. A natural pearl is formed when an irritant such as a grain of sand makes its way into a mollusk, clam or oyster. The mollusk, in defense of the irritant, secretes a fluid (nacre) to coat the irritant. Layer upon layer of this fluid is coated on the irritant until a pearl is formed. This natural, organic process creates a freshwater pearl. Cultured pearls are manmade by humans placing an irritant inside a mollusk or oyster and caring for them in a protective environment.

Natural pearls are very rare. The Persian Gulf, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela and the Micronesian Islands are some of the sources for the natural pearl. Most pearls available today are cultured or manmade pearls.

Pearls were once considered a financial asset, valuable because they were so rare. Thousands of oysters had to be searched to find that oyster that held a single pearl, created merely by chance. They were so valuable that they were comparable in price to real estate. During the time of the Roman Empire, the pearl was considered the favorite gem of the wealthy. Roman women wore their pearls to bed so that upon awakening, they could be reminded of their wealth.

Pearls are quite soft and less durable than most gems. Special care should be used to keep your pearls in good condition. Pearls are sensitive to acids, dryness and extreme humidity. Apply any hairspray, perfume or cosmetics before you put on pearls. Human sweat and the oil from your hands can dissolve the pearls luster. It is recommended to wipe your pearls off after wear. Do not leave pearls exposed to direct sunlight or they will turn yellow or fade. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner and always be careful as to how you store them.