June Birthstone – Pearl Jewelry

The lovely pearl is the June birthstone, as well as the astral stone for Gemini and Cancer. The illustrious gem has a long and storied history, and is the oldest known gemstone to be used in jewelry.

Though no one knows when oysters first began forming pearls, the first known use of the pearl in jewelry was around 500 B.C.;  remnants of a pearl earring were found inside the sarcophagus of a Persian princess, now on display at the Louvre.  Civilizations have been built on the wealth from pearls, Cleopatra drank a pearl to prove her love, and St. Augustine  even declared that the pearl be reserved as the gemological symbol of Jesus Christ.   During the Roman civilization, only the royalty and aristocracy were allowed to wear pearls, adding to their prestige and desirability.

Even the Bible mentions the pearl nearly ten times, the most famous reference being in regards to the Pearl Gates of Heaven:

“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”  Revelations 21:21

The other famous biblical pearl reference appears in Matthew 7:6 , where the pearl is a symbol for religion:

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Throughout the centuries the pearl has served as  a symbol of purity, religion, perfection,  virtue, wealth and innocence.  It was also revered as the most precious gem until the diamond was discovered in the 1700s, and is still the only gem created by a living creature.  Though today most pearls are cultivated by placing an irritant inside the oyster (thus stimulating the formation of a pearl), they are still incredibly precious and sought-after for their beauty and uniqueness. No two pearls are alike, which is why they make such special jewelry pieces.

Apples of Gold is excited to introduce a wealth of gorgeous new pearl jewelry to our collection. From stunning Tahitian pearl rings and earrings to breathtaking diamond and pearl necklaces and bracelets, our pearl jewelry makes a lovely gift for June birthdays… and just about any other occasion as well.

Origin of the Pearl

“This pearl has become my soul. . . . If I give it up, I shall lose my soul.”

And such was the pronouncement inspired by the Pearl, in John Steinbeck’s 1947 novel of the same title. No other kind of gem or jewelry in history has inspired unfailing desire and to this extent, whether in fiction or in real life. Through the centuries, it has been the subject of curiosity and served as the timeless muse among the greatest writers for many centuries. As the world’s oldest gem, one could scarcely imagine how much and how long pearls have stirred man’s imagination.

For the next 1,500 years after its discovery, ancient people have debated the gem’s origin. And for that long, they held inaccurate theories and, thereby, beliefs  about how pearls are made. In Greece, they believed that pearls were made through water nymphs’ tears dropped inside an oyster. Europeans, on the other hand, long held the belief that oysters open up to receive the morning dew and as these dews were coated by oysters, it formed a pearl. It wasn’t until the native Americans disputed this belief that the world view on the origin of pearls was presented correctly. Since then, a pearl has been described as “a smooth, lustrous, variously colored deposit, chiefly calcium carbonate, formed around a grain of sand or other foreign matter in the shells of certain mollusks or shell as a gem”.

The appeal of the pearl has not diminished since the time of its first discovery between 4,000 B.C.-6,000 B.C. along the Persian gulf. Ancient Sanskrit sacred texts are filled with references to this ancient beauty. They went as far as to state that the god Krishna discovered the world’s first ever pearl.  Even the Koran enthused that pearls shall be part of the Muslims reward in paradise. It was revered, admired and coveted by old civilizations; from the ancient Chinese, Indian, Egyptians, to the Romans and Greeks.

Because of its appearance, the Pearl has also become a symbol of purity, chastity and gentility. The ancient Greeks believed pearls as a symbol of love and marriage and has been traditionally given to a young bride.

Apples of Gold has a variety of pearl bracelets, pearl necklaces, pearl rings, pearl earrings, and pearl strands made with this beautiful gem.