The Unique Gem - A History of Pearls

Classic pearl jewelry was the jewelry of choice in earlier generations, with references to pearl jewelry relating back to ancient times. And yet today, women across the globe are still drawn to the timeless and elegant pearl. The fascinating reasons as to why pearl jewelry has been and is still so loved across time and space is revealed through the history of pearls. The oldest gem known to man, the pearl, has always been valued for its alluring grace and charm.

Perla is the Old French word for pearl. Although its origins are not definitively known, it may come from the Latin word meaning unique expressing the idea that each pearl is unlike any other. Another possibility is that pearl is rooted in the Italian word perna which means sea mussel. A third claim is that the word is similar to the word pear, and relates to the shape of the pearl. Citations in both Job and Mathews specify the lustrous gem, demonstrating biblical roots.

The History of the Cultured Pearl

At the end of the 1800s and the beginning of the 1900s Tokichi Nishikawa, Tatsuhei Mise and Kokichi Mikimoto, Japanese researchers, changed the way we relate to pearls today. They simultaneously, conceived and patented ways to produce cultured pearls by purposefully causing oysters to yield pearls. These discoveries revolutionized the pearl industry and made pearls accessible to the greater public.

The History of Pearls in North America

The Native Americans were already involved in the trade of pearls and pearl jewelry when North America was discovered. They had understood the inherent worth of the freshwater pearls that they had found. The colonizers from Spain, France and England were eager to exploit the opportunity to export the pearls back to their native countries. At that time, saltwater pearls were also exported to Europe. This is no longer the case as pearl production has ceased in the waters off of Central and South America, because of pollution and over fishing.

The History of Pearls in Ancient Times

The probability suggests that pearls were discovered while the sea shore was being searched by man for food. There are many references in ancient Hindu writings to pearls denoting the existence of pearls in ancient India. .Historians have found indications that the Ancient Chinese royalty valued pearls as long ago as 2300 BC. The ancient Greeks featured pearls at their weddings because they believed that the pearls would bring them love. Near the Persian Gulf, where oyster beds are found naturally, the Arabs treasured the lustrous charm of the pearls. The Koran promises the precious pearls as a reward to the worthy, in paradise.

In ancient Rome, pearls were worn only by the wealthy and the upper class endeavored to establish laws prohibiting members of the lower class from wearing them. This was because the pearls had come to be representative of nobility and wealth. The tale, one of the most famous about pearls ever, is that Antony and Cleopatra, the last Egyptian queen made a bet. Cleopatra claimed that she would partake of the most expensive meal possible. Antony ordered his servants to bring only a jug of sour wine, known to us as vinegar, to her. Cleopatra reached up to her ear and taking one of the pearl earrings from her ear, placed it into the wine. The pearl presently dissolved in the water and Cleopatra drank it. All, Antony included, agreed that the bet was won by Cleopatra.

Pearls Today

The array of pearl jewelry that is available in our times is more extraordinary than ever. Pearls are available in the full spectrum of colors, sizes and shapes. The cultured pearl is directly responsible for popularity of pearl jewelry today. They are featured in the captivating designs of many famous designers. The quality of both the cultured pearl and natural pearl accessible today are truly remarkable. The enchanting pearl, in any variety, is an alluring and dazzling focal point to any jewelry design.