When it comes to pearls, there are several characteristics that make them stand out and for which they have become one of the gems preferred by many women, although the elegance and sophistication they bring, even combined with the most basic garments, and the fact that they are totally timeless gems that will always be in fashion, are undoubtedly their main attractions.
However, beyond their beautiful appearance, there are some things that you may not have known about pearls but that will only increase your fascination and charm for them. If you are a lover of precious stones and particularly pearls, then we invite you to discover them.
1. They come from a living creature
A natural pearl is produced within the shell of an oyster, making it the only gem created by a living being. In fact, they are formed as part of a defence mechanism, according to which the mollusc creates them only to seal off the irritation caused by the intruder. So an irritant sticks between two shells and starts to get covered with some protective layers and after a while, these layers form a pearl.
2. The rarest type of pearls
A natural pearl is produced by the natural habits of oysters. But not all oysters contain pearls, which is why the natural ones are the rarest type out there since less than one in thousands of wild oysters can contain a pearl and they take their time to grow.
But among the natural pearls, the rarest are shell pearls, melo melo and abalone, which are formed in a process that takes between eight and 10 years, and those that measure more than 15 mm are found in only one of every 500,000 to 900,000 molluscs.
3. The first artificial round pearl in history
The creation of the world’s first cultivated pearl is credited to businessman Kokichi Mikimoto who, on July 11, 1893, achieved this important milestone in the history of jewellery, although at that time it was about semi-spherical pearls in the shape of a pearl cabochon.
However, it would not be until twelve years later when he managed to perfect the technique and commercially harvest his first spherical pearls. These were spherical pearls that were indistinguishable from the best natural pearls due to their excellent quality. Thus, Mikimoto’s company became the world’s leading producer of high-quality cultured pearls and jewellery made from these gems.
4. Most of the pearls sold are cultured
For some time now, it has been very rare to find pearls formed naturally by a mollusc in the ocean due to various factors such as pollution and tsunamis.
But Kokichi Mikimoto has changed the entire pearl industry by creating the first cultured pearls and has made it possible for many people to enjoy these pearls since, almost all over the world, these have been used as a substitute for natural pearls, which means that approximately 95% of the pearls that are currently commercialized in the market are cultured.
5. The most famous pearl in the world
This acknowledgement belongs to the legendary pear-shaped pearl known as the pilgrim, which owes its fame to the fact that it belonged to various famous people, kings and aristocrats throughout history, including its last known owner, who was none other than the famous actress, Elizabeth Taylor.
Although contrary to what might be thought, its name is not due to the fact that it had travelled a lot, but because of the peculiar shape it had, being used the adjective pilgrim then to refer to how rare, capricious and special this pearl was.
6. The most expensive pearl in the world
In 2006, off the coast of the Philippines, a fisherman found what is the largest and most expensive pearl in the world so far. It is a pearl that is 30 centimetres wide, 67 long, weighs 34 kilos and has been valued at 100 million dollars.
Although the man was unaware of its value and kept it under his bed for ten years as a good luck charm, since in 2016 his house was burned and he decided to move to another part of the province of the island of Palawan.
So, because it was heavy, he entrusted his finding to an aunt who worked for the local government, specifically at the tourist office and gave it to the mayor of Puerto Princesa. Now, it is exhibited in the town hall as a tourist attraction, so currently it can be seen in the New Green City Hall public building in Puerto Princesa.
Also read about the largest gems in the world
7. The oldest pearl in history
Although pearls have been very popular since the time of the Romans and Greeks, the oldest pearl in history is 8,000 years old. It is a piece discovered in the United Arab Emirates, specifically in the archaeological site of Marawah Island, in the Persian Gulf, in 2012. According to radiocarbon dating, it is between 5,800 and 5,600 BC.
The pearl dubbed the “pearl of Abu Dhabi” will be on permanent display at the Zayed National Museum.
8. Types of pearls
There are four types of pearls that vary in size, shape, colour, and value. The first type are “freshwater pearls”, which are grown in lakes and rivers in China and are the most widely available.
The next category is the “Akoya Pearl”. These are produced in Japan and are a variety of the saltwater pearls, while the third type of pearls are the “Tahitian Pearls”, which are grown on the island of French Polynesia. They are available in many beautiful shades of black, blue, grey, green, and purple.
For their part, the “South Sea pearls” are the largest and rarest cultured pearls, which makes them the most precious. They come in whiter, cream, and gold colors, and are grown in Australia and the Philippines.
9. Available in different shapes and colors
People believe that pearls have perfectly round shapes, but this is not true. Round shaped pearls are mainly used, but pearls come in different shapes, colors, and sizes. They are available in eight basic shapes: round, semi-circular, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque, edged and double pebbled.
We can also talk about colour because although the most common for pearls are white, cream or grey, they also come in colors such as purple, black, pink, green, champagne, chocolate, blue and lavender.
10. June Official Birthstones
The pearl is the official birthstone of those who were born in June. This is a symbol of clarity, purity and loyalty and it helps to improve good relationships. Therefore, the pearl is a very good gift for everyone who is born this month.
11. They can be dissolved in vinegar
Because they are made primarily of calcium carbonate, pearls can be dissolved in vinegar or lemon juice. This is a fact that few know about pearls, so be careful not to drop them in your salad. However, the exact time required to dissolve the pearl will depend on several factors. These include the acidity level of the vinegar, the temperature, and the surface area of the pearl exposed to the reaction.
12. Identifying fake pearls
A simple method that we can use to recognize real pearls is to rub one against the other. The false pearls are completely smooth, while in the case of natural or cultured pearls, they have mother-of-pearl plates, which make them slightly rough since, in general, they have small defects or irregularities in their shape.
ALFA