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Pearl – Classy And Adds a Royal Touch to One’s Appearance

Royalty evokes a feeling of aura, a special and awe inspiring one. With passage of time, the kind of feeling it invoked in bygone eras has withered away, yet the hold it possesses over people’s minds remains the same. Only the openness of it has gone, instead today it holds a kind of secrecy, which invokes the same kind of curiosity as earlier. This kind of hold and magic is possessed by another entity, that is, a gemstone called Pearl. There are many gemstones in this information age; some of them have made it big thanks due to explosion of information and publicity and not to the depth of their characteristics. Pearl does not belong to this category. To add strength to the link between royalty and pearl, historic tales tells us that pearls were an exclusive privilege of the royalty. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and so on are all seen at their glittering best at glamour parties, but it is pearl which snatches that extra attention. No wonder it is regarded as the ‘Queen Gem’.

Pearl in the truest sense is not hailed as a gemstone, but a product of the sea. Pearl in natural form referred to as “Oriental Pearl” originated when an irritant pushes its way into a particular species of oyster, mussel or clam To protect itself, the mollusc lets go a fluid to coat the irritant, after which layer upon layer of this coating is deposited on the irritant till a beautiful and elegant pearl takes shape. The gem has a hardness of 2.5 to 4.5. To find a natural pearl is an exacting task it is like searching for a needle in a haystack. It is found in the alluring Persian Gulf, Red Sea and the Gulf of Mannar, with the Persian Gulf being the most favoured one. Fresh water pearls are found in USA, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Sri Lanka, Scotland, France, Ireland and the Micronesian islands.

Pearls comes about in various types of prices, it depends on the lustre, size, how they were grown, colour and type. Among the most expensive ones are the natural pearls which are followed by cultured pearls. The cheapest are the fresh water pearls. Interesting information is that one can determine the genuineness of the pearl that is, whether it is real or fake, where fake can be made out by rubbing them against one’s teeth. The smoothness, if on the higher side, gives away the fact they are fake ones. Added to this, the fake pearls will be either too heavy (inside is glass) or too light (inside is plastic). A better and much more reliable method to ascertain the gem’s genuineness lies in getting it tested through X-radiography and X-ray fluorescence.

A rich history and other vivid information make the reading of this excellent gemstone worth a read, a compelling one, and here we go-

History

• A fascinating Arab tale reveals that pearls came to existence when dew drops filled with moonlight fell into the ocean and were swallowed by oysters.
• The pearl was the favoured gem of the wealthy and rich folks during the heydays of the Roman empire, the Roman women wore pearls to bed so that they could be made known of their wealth immediately after awakening.
• In the ancient days, the gem was said to be the exclusive possession of the royalty. The Duke of Saxony in 1812 had framed a rule, which prohibited the wearing of pearls by nobility, professors, doctors or their wives.
• American Indians wore pearls for adornment, the pearls plucked from the Famed Mississippi River by these people were strung into necklaces, sewn into headdresses and set into copper ornaments.
• Historic lore says that pearls were thought to be tears of God.
• Greeks of the bygone halcyon days were of the firm belief that pearls would facilitate marital bliss and prevent newly wed girls from crying.
• Old folklore reveals that Cleopatra used to place a pearl in a glass of wine and when it dissolved, she drank the same to impress Marc Anthony.
• Pearls were worn by knights in the middle ages during battle times in the belief that the same will protect them from harm.
• The gem was sacred to the Moon and the Queen Diana.
• The ancient Hindus used pearls as one of the five precious gems in the magical necklace of Lord Vishnu. There were and are many sacred idols decorated with precious pearls.
• A single pearl was worn by priests over the “Third Eye” in ancient days to elevate their psychic power vision.
• Medical treatment in the ancient days made use of pearls in a big way. They were crushed and mixed with wine or honey and when drunk used to heal a host of illnesses.
• Ancient folk tales disclose that pearls were cherished by sea divers as powerful amulets. They believed that it protected them from sea perils.

Benefits

Numerous are the benefits from the usage of this gem, they are:

• Its wear ability factor is rated as Good.
• The gem is an ideal addition to a woman’s wardrobe it gives that elegant and sophisticated look to a lady. The classic and round pearl necklace is an excellent and perfect wear for an evening wear or suit dressing.
• It is modern and Ayurvedic birthstone for the month of June and Mystical birthstone for the month of November.
• Fresh water pearls is regarded as the anniversary gemstone for the 1^styear of marriage and pearl as it is for the 12^thand 30^thyear of marriage.
• The gem helps the wearer to assess one’s worth as it is and make an assessment.
• Making a gift of the pearls is said to be highly fortunate one and allows the wearer to witness the love of the person who made the gift.
• It is termed as an emblem of chastity, modesty and purity. Also it is hailed as the symbol of love, success and happiness. Another plus point is that they are regarded as an ideal wedding gift since it symbolises a happy and successful marriage. Young Girls and virgins carve for this gem than any other gemstone.
• The Bible terms the gem as the symbol for wisdom.
• Coming to healing aspect, pearls are said to clean the internal organs, tackle heart problems and tuberculosis. It also helps one gain nutritionally and made for a good addition to one’s diet.
• If one dreams of Pearls in sleep, then he or she is bound to have faithful friends, rise in wealth, prestige and social status and would be most fortunate in matters of love.
• It should not be hidden away, but worn next to the skin so as to maintain their lustre and beauty.
• It is recommended for its power to enhance one’s creativeness and bring down emotion level.

Colour

Pearls be it natural or cultured ones come in sparkling range of colours, which add glowing lustre to its overall appearance. Pearls from freshwater come about in various kinds of colours, they swing from white to silvery white to salmon to pink to red to copper to brown to bronze to purple to lavender to blue to green to cream to yellow. Among the lot white is said to be the most common one. The gem’s desirability goes a notch up when they come in pastel pinks, roses, lavenders and purples.

The different colours of the gem come from the mixture of genetics, mussel species, water quality and the position of the gem in the shell. In other words, pearls get their colour from the shell in which they take root.

Look After Factors

Pearl needs to be showered with extra attention so as to keep it going and retain its elegant shape:

• It is sensitive to heat and all kinds of chemicals, which includes perfumes and other cosmetics.
• The gems at the time of being taken off should be wiped with a dry, lint-free absorbent soft cloth such as towel.
• The gem should be cleaned with warm soapy water. However caution should be exercised not to allow the water into the drill hole since the same will affect the colour of the gem.
• The pearl necklaces should be stored flat out since it allows for the silk to stretch. Also, the pearls should be stored separately from other jewels to avoid starchiness. And it should be also stored in a dry environment.
• The pearls should be avoided being put in plastic bags since moisture tends to get trapped leading to damage.
• It is less durable than most gems.
• When a pearl becomes dull and lifeless they should be submerged in seawater so as to get back their original beauty and glister.

Pearl is indeed a treasured gem, the purest and loveliest of all gemstones. It has an arresting presence, which captures immediate attention. Being one that possesses many mystic and occult virtues and rich beauty, the gem has become a vaunted symbol of spiritual wisdom and knowledge. With its many splendour and admirable benefits it stands out in a league all its own.