Why Pearls Are Back In a Big Way

Pearl History and Lore

Pearls have captivated the human imagination and functioned as symbols of wealth and status for thousands of years. A Chinese historian recorded the oldest written mention of natural pearls in 2206 BC. Today, they remain treasured gems to be passed down from generation to generation.

In ancient civilizations, pearls symbolized the moon and were believed to hold magical properties. Thousands of years ago, Chinese civilizations thought that wearing pearls protected against fire and dragons. During the Victorian era, small pearls were used in mourning jewelry to symbolize tears. Pearls have also been known to symbolize fertility, loyalty, modesty, chastity, purity and friendship over the years.

Freshwater

Freshwater pearls are grown in freshwater lakes, rivers and ponds, predominately in China. They come in a wide range of colors and shapes.

Saltwater

Saltwater pearls are created by oysters in oceans from such places as Thailand, Australia, Indonesia and Tahiti. Saltwater pearls range from 2 to 10 millimeters in size and are usually round and white or cream.

The world’s most popular saltwater pearls are Akoya cultured pearls, which are grown in Japanese and Chinese waters inside Akoya oysters. They come in a variety of colors, from rose and silvery white to cream, gold or bluish grey.

Keshi

Keshi pearls are a shape rather than a type of pearl. They aren’t found in large quantities and are extremely rare. They’re formed when the oyster rejects and spits out the implanted nucleus before the culturing process is complete. The result is a pearl without a nucleus — one that’s 100 percent nacre.