Sunday, June 11, 2006

June Birthstones - Pearls

Hello everyone.

I have decided to create a few blogs on gemstones. I figured since it is June, I would start with a few of the birthstones for June. In this blog, I will give you a quick intro into pearls.



Pearls



(June's Birthstone)




Pearls
are organic gems produced by layered secretions of nacre. Nacre is a
type of aragonite ( a compound of Calcium Carbonate.) The nacre secretions occur
inside of mollusks when an irritant disturbs the soft tissue of the bivalve's
mantle. The mollusk then surrounds the irritant with a "pearl sac" and begins to
deposit nacre onto the irritant. The process typically takes from four to seven
years to create a gem quality stone.


Where jewelry is concerned, pearls are typically worn as earrings and necklaces. They are highly prized as wedding jewelry. In ancient Rome, pearls were so prized, that only high ranking members of society were allowed to wear them.


During the Renaissance it was not uncommon to see women wearing pearls jewelry; including necklaces, earring, and pendants, that were strung from gold wire.


The largest pearl known was found in 1934 off the coast of the Philippines.
The pearl, known as the Pearl of Laotze, was found in a giant clam and
weighed in at an impressive 14 pounds 1 ounce.


Pearls are believe to have strong healing properties, including the ability
to balance the emotions and help to dispel anger (especially for astrological
water signs.) Pearls are also thought to aid in issues of digestion and ailments
of the stomach. As a connection with the feminine, pearls are used to ease
childbirth and promote fertility.


Since pearls are associated with the sea, divers often wear them as
protection from sharks.


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