The year in birthstones
It’s June, the month of pearls, and historically a time of the year that holds many celebrations such as the Summer Solstice (21st). When the sun climbs to its highest point in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere and is a celebration of life at its fullest, plants are in bloom, animals thrive, and the natural world reaches its peak of vitality.
June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth, this is where the tradition of June weddings originated. Romans believed that marrying in June brought fertility, prosperity and happiness to couples. The birthstone for June being pearl is significant as pearls have been linked to marriage and fertility for centuries.
Pearls in jewellery
Pearl is ranked 2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means it’s very soft and can be easily scratched. But with reasonable care, pearl jewellery can be a lasting treasure. We recommend necklaces, earrings or lighter wear styles as they will have less opportunity to be knocked or scratched. They can range from classic white round, to free-form baroque shapes and with hues of glistening purple and pink all the way to the rare green purple Tahitian pearls.
History of pearls
Pearls are actually the oldest gemstone known to man. They have such a long history of being cherished and sought after, that it is difficult to pinpoint when exactly they were first discovered. Pearls captivated early civilisations, emerging mysteriously from the sea already formed naturally within various freshwater and saltwater mollusks. The use of pearl jewellery predates many other gemstones, as they were discovered long before the techniques for cutting and polishing other gems were developed.
Pearls were the prized possessions of Chinese royalty as early as 2300 BC. There have been countless references to the pearl in religions and mythology of cultures from early times due to their ethereal beauty. Pearls were considered the ultimate symbol of social standing and wealth in ancient Rome while the ancient Egyptians were often buried with them.
It is said that Cleopatra had a wager with Mark Antony as to which could provide the most expensive banquet. Cleopatra removed one of her precious pearl earrings and dropped it into a glass of vinegar. Once the pearl dissolved in the vinegar, she drank it and therefore won the wager.
Cultured vs Natural pearls
The escalating demand for pearls that emerged caused a scarcity of natural pearls over time. Before the 20th century, pearls were extremely difficult to source as pearl divers would face extreme conditions to retrieve the oysters, and the likelihood that each oyster would even have a pearl formed inside was low.
Some attempts had been made to create cultured pearls over the years. It wasn’t until the 20th century, when Japanese entrepreneur Kokichi Mikimoto created the predecessors of today’s round cultured pearls, that pearls became more affordable and accessible. Now they are predominately commercially harvested, in a range of shapes, sizes and colours.
Baroque pearls
Baroque pearls are pearls that have formed in unique irregular shapes. We are blown away by the unique beauty of these baroque pearls! This choker style necklace with customisable drop detail is a real show-stopper piece. Click here to find out more.
Despite their long history, pearls have a fascinating timeless elegance and an enduring appeal. The June birthstone is so diverse, pearls vary in terms of size, colour, design, quality and price so much so, that no matter what your taste or budget, you’ll be able to find the perfect pearl jewellery for you.
Love, Team Baroque
