GEMSTONE FOCUS – PEARL
Meaning, Significance and Symbology: | ||
Pearl has been the official birthstone for the month of June since 1912, as well as the Zodiac sign for Gemini and Cancer. Freshwater pearls are often considered to be the traditional gift to present your partner with on the 1st Wedding Anniversary, but can also be given on the 3rd, 12th or 30th depending on the version you reference. The most valuable pearls are perfectly symmetrical, relatively large and naturally produced, they have a shimmering iridescence which is called orient lustre. |
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An organic gem, pearls are formed inside molluscs such as oysters and mussels. They are formed when an irritant such as a grain of sand gets trapped inside the molluscs shell. During this process a lustrous substance called ‘nacre’ is secreted around the object in order to protect the delicate internal surface of the mollusc. As the layers of nacre slowly begin to build up, a pearl is formed and it’s the overlapping layers of nacre that create the gorgeous, lustrous beauty of pearls that are definitive of a pearl. Natural pearls have been harvested from the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Manaar and the Red Sea for thousands of years. The coasts of Polynesia and Australia produce mainly cultured pearls, whilst both freshwater and cultured pearls are cultivated in Japan and China. Freshwater pearls occur naturally in the rivers of Scotland, Ireland, France, Austria, Germany and Mississippi USA. |
Types of Pearls: | ||
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Interesting Facts about Pearls: | ||
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A Few Famous June ‘Pearl’ Birthdays: | ||
1st – Marilyn Monroe 9th – Johnny Depp 11th – Shia LaBeouf 13th – Chris Evans 17th – Kendrick Lamar 21st – Lana Del Rey 26th – Ariana Grande 30th – Cheryl Cole |