June's Birthstone: Pearls!

June's Birthstone: Pearls!

From classic to Boho, pearl jewelry delivers endless options to suit any taste and occasion. So how lucky are those with June birthdays — pearls as their birthstone! While alexandrite and moonstone share the month, pearls are perhaps the best known and most traditional of the three.

Pearl overview

Pearls have a long and storied history. Beauty is their timeless appeal, and for centuries, rarity made these organic gemstones a treasure only for royalty, nobility and the extremely wealthy.

Eventually came culturing — popularized in the early 20th century — a process of human intervention to grow pearls by planting an irritant inside the mollusk, where nacre (the lustrous material secreted over the irritant) builds up in layer after layer over time.

Pearl types

Pearls are divided into two types. Those that are “natural“ — found inside mollusks in oceans and rivers, and those that are “cultured,“ as mentioned above, meaning human intervention is involved. Generally speaking, what is available to most of us are cultured pearls, which are found in several varieties as follows.

Freshwater pearls are the most commonly seen on the market, cultured in pearl farms located primarily in China and also Japan. Freshwater pearls can be found in a variety of interesting shapes, including semi-round, rice, Baroque, rectangular and others. They are lovely in quality, and naturally occur in white as well as soft shades of pink, peach, and even light mauve or lavender. They’re beautiful!

Akoya pearls are saltwater pearls from Japan, known for their round shape and exquisite luster. They are found in white and cream, some with a silvery undertone. These pearls are rarer and more expensive than freshwater pearls since the oysters in which they grow may produce only one or two of the fine round pearls sought for the most classic jewelry. In comparison, a single freshwater mussel can produce far more pearls.

Tahitian pearls are also saltwater pearls, once considered the rarest of all, found exclusively in French Polynesia (Tahiti). They are known for their remarkable natural colors — deep peacock blues, greens, purples, copper and silver, as well as the famous “black” pearls — with an almost metallic sheen. Thanks to pearl farming, Tahitian pearls are more available than they once were, and while still expensive, more accessible on the pearl market.

South Sea pearls are considered the rarest and most expensive. Found in Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, they are renowned for their silver and stunning golden hues, thick nacre, soft luster, large size, and beautiful shapes.

Pearls throughout history

Written mention of pearls goes back more than 4,000 years to China. Throughout history, rarity and beauty made pearls a prized possession. Imagine the wealth (and effort) required with the odds of finding a natural pearl roughly 1 in 10,000!

In the 15th and 16th centuries, pearls were discovered in the Americas, resulting in far more plentiful supply. Queen Elizabeth I’s famous passion for pearls — including black pearls she apparently believed had medicinal benefits  — is seen in portraits and depicted in films.  

Fast forward to culturing in the early 1900s, greater availability, and fashion icons like Coco Chanel sparking our desire for pearls in every form and format.

The allure of pearls

From the long ropes of pearls of the 1920s to the classic pearl choker of the 1950s to our anything-goes contemporary approach, the beauty of this luminous organic gemstone finds a home in every jewelry style.

Pearls remain one of the most feminine and flattering of all jewelry design elements. They work in any metal hue — in strung designs, in chain designs, and on silk, cord or leather — available in a range of natural and dyed colors and at every price point. 

Pearls also come in various grades; pop by here to learn about determining pearl quality as well as styling tips and more.

Symbolism, energy, and...  the perfect gift

Pearls have long been associated with innocence, purity, and love — ideal symbolism for so many kinds of occasions, and no doubt part of why they are the perfect gift. Add their beauty — the way they reflect light, their luster, and the fact that no two are alike (lovely symbolism in itself) — and the appeal is easy to understand. 

Some believe that Tahitian pearls, formed inside the black-lipped oyster and producing extraordinary peacock coloring, carry healing energy and promote emotional balance.

A note on sourcing

The pearl market has changed significantly in recent years. Quality has become harder to find, and I use only pearls that meet my standards for luster, surface, and overall beauty. When you see a pearl in a Modern Whimsy Jewelry design, it's there because it has earned its place.

By the way...

By the way… Austrian Egon Schiele is among my favorite early 20th century artists with a body of remarkable work filled with emotional intensity and no small amount of eroticism. While best known for his portraits (and nudes), his moody landscapes are eerily beautiful and not to be missed. Schiele's life was cut short by the flu epidemic of 1918, just as he was achieving recognition. As brief as his career was, the works he left us are stunning and very much worthy of exploring.

Jewelry shown above:

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