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.

Chocolate Pearls – A Decadent Valentine’s Day Gift

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, men across the world are scratching their heads trying to figure out precisely what gift to give to their significant others.

There’s no doubt that Valentine’s Day can be one of the most challenging holidays to shop for.  To help you provide her with the perfect gift, Apples of Gold Jewelry has added new pearls to its pearl jewelry collection!  From chocolate pearls to pink pearls, from white to black, pearls are one of the most sensational pieces of jewelry for Valentine’s Day.

Women love chocolate and women love jewelry; so what better way to make the day perfect than Apples of Gold’s chocolate pearl jewelry? Our chocolate pears are natural freshwater pearls that are chocolate colored through a permanent dye process. This allows us to offer you quality pearls at affordable prices.

I personally recommend the Chocolate Pearl Necklace with 14K gold clasp. Each round pearl is secured together through a high quality double knotted 18 inch strand and the 14K yellow gold clasp contrast the rich chocolate color to perfection. Other great choices include the Natural Freshwater Chocolate Pearl Earrings in 14K Yellow Gold setting, or for a complete gift, the Chocolate Pearl Necklace, Bracelet and Earrings Set.

Regardless of which you choose, presentation of the gift is key!  Some excellent gift giving suggestions include putting the chocolate pearl gift underneath the lining of a box of chocolates for the ultimate surprise, or presenting them during the desert course on your Valentines’ Day dinner.

No matter what you choose to do this Valentine’s Day, remember that love comes once in a lifetime, and what better way to capture that than a heart felt piece of jewelry?

Chocolate Pearls – Simply Delicious

Two of the most common Valentine’s Day presents are chocolates and jewelry. These items are front-runners in the gift-giving category for good reason: women love receiving them. The only problem with giving her chocolate is the potential for a waistline guilt trip that your gift is ruining her New Year’s resolution. For this reason, sometimes jewelry is the best (and safest, if you are worried about receiving a death stare) route.

If you are on the hunt for jewelry this Valentine’s Day, we have the ideal jewelry suggestion: capitalize on your honey’s love for chocolate without the guilt trip by wowing her with gorgeous, rich chocolate pearls. To be clear, chocolate pearls are not some kind of kitsch edible jewelry; au contraire, they are a beautiful, unique pearls that come in a rich shade of brown. Chocolate pearls first appeared on the ears and necks of Hollywood A-listers a few years ago, and demand has since blossomed among jewelry lovers.

The warm brown hue of chocolate pearls makes them super versatile, easy to wear jewelry. The rich shade that looks wonderful on everyone’s skin tone, especially in the dead on winter when many of us are lacking in the tan department. White pearls pop beautifully against skin with a little color, but blend in with pale winter skin. Chocolate pearls, on the other hand, can help bring a warmth and glow to your skin, even during the chilliest months.

So, What Exactly is a Chocolate Pearl?

Affordable chocolate pearl jewelry is relatively new to the jewelry scene since the color is actually man made. Though there are not naturally occurring chocolate pearls in nature, several methods are used by jewelers to create chocolate pearls that will not fade. Bleaching Tahitian black pearls during formation is one method is expensive thanks to the relative rarity of Tahitian black pearls.

In order to create a gorgeous chocolate pearl that is affordable, natural pearls are treated with a permanent brown stain that will not fade or wear out over time. As such, chocolate pearls should be kept away from all harsh household chemicals. This isn’t such a departure from the care of regular pearls, which should also be kept away from chemicals to keep their luster.

Where Can I Buy Chocolate Pearls?

Chocolate pearls can be hard to find, but Apples of Gold recently began carrying select chocolate pearl jewelry (Chocolate Pearl Jewelry Collection). We’re proud to be able to offer these gorgeous pearls to our customers, and you hope you’ll love them just as much as we do. For now we carry a beautiful, double knotted 18 inch chocolate pearl strand necklace with 14k gold clasp, a pristine pair of natural freshwater chocolate chocolate pearl stud earrings, and a chocolate pearl set that includes the 18 inch pearl necklace, pearl stud earrings and a 7 inch chocolate pearl bracelet as well.

Also, if you love colored pearls, check out our other fine selection that includes pink and black pearls (along with the traditional white).

Once Upon A Jewelry

There is a treasure trove of historical information regarding jewelry of the bygone days. We all know about rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and pendants because they are very much in existence today. But do you know that there is at least one kind of jewelry that was so much en vogue in the 17th century?  This was the kind worn by high society and the nobility and were often featured in their life-sized paintings by the grand master painters of centuries past.  Unfortunately for us, these pieces have not been worn publicly beginning in the early 18th century and has since been relegated into the closets of museums and auction houses.

We are talking about stomacher jewelry or stomacher brooch jewelry. It was first introduced in Spain in the early 1600 and was quickly adapted as a fashion trend in the whole of Europe. Wikipedia defines a Stomacher as :

“… a decorated triangular panel that fills in the front opening of a woman’s gown or bodice. Stomachers were often embroidered, or covered in pearls, diamonds and other jewels.”

In many instances, a stomacher is created in interlocking sections (see photo at left), which could be worn together or individually depending on the occasion and the wearer’s whim. It could also be part of a set of jewelry that includes a ring, earring, bracelet and a pendant.  Originally designed with beautiful embroidery, it was during the renaissance period that precious stones, pearls and diamonds were incorporated through sewing onto the stomacher fabric.  The design is very  ornate that usually extends from the neckline to about 10 inches deep into the waistline. The workmanship, the details and the amount of jewelry set into it is awe-inspiring, to say the least.

Moreover, stomachers were not permanently affixed to the dress; it was simply held together by pins, usually under the bustier, and can be removed to pair with another dress that matched it. It was a must-have accessory for a woman who wanted her wealth and status affirmed.

No one really knows why this fashion did not take off like every other piece of jewelry still in use today. We could only surmise. But the more important thing is once upon a time, history lent us a period when man’s creativity, and to some extent its profligacy, reached the degree that it did during the trend of the Stomachers.

Jewelry: A Modern Story

Jewelry’s modern story begins in the late 19^th century, which heralded many historic events affecting jewelry making and design, including:  

1. The birth and success of the industrial revolution;

2. The introduction of fashion and costume jewelry, and;

3. The launch of high-quality jewelry firms that have continued the tradition of fine jewelry into the 21^st century.

 

The industrialization of this age led to more jobs for the masses, ergo, economic freedom for the majority. This social phenomenon somewhat diminished the reputation of jewelry as a symbol of social rank. The new wealth created by this economic boom afforded the working class the option of buying jewelry that mostly matches their tastes. It is also important to note that as a result of this new economic opportunity, we witnessed the birth of society’s Middle Class.

 

The demand for affordable and simple-design jewelry increased. For supply to keep up jewelry was mass-produced and this in turn cheapened the market price.  Usually made from imitation of precious stones and electro-plated gold and silver, this jewelry eventually became known as fashion/costume jewelry that is devoid of intrinsic value. But it became a hit with many in the populace as it could be versatile and very inexpensive.

 

Men, for the majority of history up to this point, wore an equal amount of jewelry as women. But in this period, men’s jewelry was greatly reduced to buttons, cufflinks, and rings. At the same time, threatened by middle class consumption of something previously and exclusively enjoyed by the nobility, the wealthy sought the services of master craftsmen and goldsmiths to design personalized and high quality jewelry for them instead.

 

Fortunately, the 19^th century had provided for this particular need. There were several notable firms founded in this period that propagated the fine jewelry tradition well into the present times. Among them are by Peter Carl Faberge in 1900 Russia; Alfred and his son Louis Cartier in 1898, Paris; Charles Lewis Tiffany in 1851, New York; Bulgari in 1884, Rome; and Patek Philippe in 1851, Geneva (an acknowledged pillar of the timepieces industry).

 

Watches and matching jewelry were introduced in this period and have remained a significant part of jewelry ownership.

 

One thing we can affirm is that modern day jewelry is a thoroughly eclectic collection of various, differing cultures and religions; as well as from the artistry of craftsmen and goldsmiths who once upon their time, dabbled in the design and indulged the whims of their richer patrons.

A Brief History of Jewelry in the Middle Ages- Renaissance Periods

Early civilizations’ discovery of gold and the possibilities it presented were nothing short of wondrous. Gold–its malleability and versatility to be molded into various shapes and sizes of jewelry made it (and still makes it) the most popular metal to work with. It was approximately 5,000 B.C when different civilizations all over the world discovered gold and began to work this metal into pieces to frame precious stones into. In Central and South America, China, India, and Egypt, gold became the metal of choice to make into elaborate or simple pieces of jewelry.

The Middle Ages had seen the utilitarian and functional use of jewelry. Gemstones like ruby, garnet, and sapphire found their way into the fashion of the time heavily incorporated into clothes, brooches, clasps, belts and hats. Strings of pearls and gold chains were used as popular belts during these times.

It was also during the middle ages when Poesy rings became a fad. These rings symbolized a token of affection or friendship. A short, personal sentiment–mostly about love and friendship–can be found as inscriptions on or inside poesy rings and were exchanged between lovers and friends. In Roman history, a cameo was introduced bearing the icons of nobility and popular political leaders of the time.

This period also saw the introduction of several designs that are still popular today. A couple of these are the Celtic and Byzantine designs. Intricate, elaborate and beautiful, these designs are still very sought after in present times.

Religious-themed jewelry also became popular during this period. Crosses and icons of Christianity i.e. papal rings, rosary beads, pendants with the saints and other religious figures were introduced around this era.

Inspired by the amount of gemstones and pearls traded all around, craftsmen and goldsmiths designed opulent, extravagant pieces of jewelry. And since it came with a hefty price, only the nobility and those in the upper strata could afford it. In addition, it was around this time that the Sumptuary Law (laws attempting to regulate consumption, especially of luxury items) was enforced. This was the law which governed who could wear what jewelry and was supposed to protect the top nobility’s status in the society.

If the medieval period saw the rapid development of jewelry making and its application to various situations, the Renaissance on the other hand, simply refined these changes. It was at this time that the Sumptuary Law was lifted and the nobility, being conscious of standing apart from the masses, sought master craftsmen and goldsmiths to customize and design jewelry for them. Beautiful pieces of jewelry became the object of desire. Quality became increasingly important. It was at this point that jewelry as a symbol of wealth and social status became a distinct and expensive truth.

This period saw the continued popularity of gemstones set in gold and silver. The European trade with the East had brought with it vast exposure to artists, goldsmiths, and jewelry craftsmen. The era also introduced the tradition of matching jewelry with clothes and other accessories. This practice was said to have been encouraged by Napoleon Bonaparte while he was King of France.

Truly we can say that these two eras ushered in a brilliant development for jewelry design, uses, and the craft  as a whole. Many types of jewelry that were introduced in these periods are still very popular today.

(End of the Second in a Three-Part Series)