I love pearls.  I find it fascinating that something that started out as basically an itch in a mollusk shell could come out so lusterous.   I received my first pearls, a set of large pearl earrings, from my sister when I graduated high school.  When I was 26 I bought my strand of pearls which I eventually wore on my wedding day.  I had no idea at the time, though, that pearls came in so many colors and shapes. 

 Pearls are the birthstone of June (alternate June birthstones are Moonstone and Alexandrite).   They are seen as a sign of purity (hence the “Pearly Gates”).  The ancient Greeks believed pearls were actually the tears of Aphrodite, while the Chinese believed they originated from the brains of dragons.  For many years only the wealthy were allowed to own pearls, as they were a status symbol. Cleopatra once made a wager with Marc Antony that she could host the most expensive meal in history.  He was impressed, but did not believe that the meal was any more extravagent than any other she had hosted.  Cleopatra then removed one of her pearl earrings, worth a fortune at the time, and dropped it into her wine,  which she proceeded to drink as the pearl dissolved.  Antony conceded defeat.

 Naturally formed pearls are relatively rare today, so if you have a strand handed down through the family, cherish them. Most pearls available in the trade today are cultured, either freshwater or marine.  They are available in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and can be bleached white or dyed virtually any color of the rainbow. 

  Even if you’re not interested in wearing a “classic” pearl strand, the variety of shapes and colors means that virtually everyone should be able to find a style to suit them.   They are suitable for birthdays, graduations, shower presents; you name it, pearls are a wonderful gift.  For jewelry designers, the possibilites are endless.