The Pearl is the traditional birthstone for those born in June. The birthstone poem
Who comes with summer to this earth
And owes to June her hour of birth
A pearl should wear against her skin
Who's innocence many a heart shall win
suggests some of the properties that come with wearing a Pearl, e.g., innocence, friendship, loyalty and faithfulness.
For centuries pearls have been used in jewellery, and have been discovered in old Aztek graves in Mexico and in Egyptian mummy cases. They were a favorite gem used during the Roman Empire and, during the Tudor era, pearls were one of the most popular items of jewellery. Many images of Queen Elizabeth I show her wearing pearls.
A pearl is a hard object, produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusc, and is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in layers around an irritant, such as a grain of sand that has become trapped in the mollusc. The lustre is dependant upon the temperature of the water, and the tint upon the composition of the water. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth but pearls can also be found in other shapes dependant upon the shape of the irritant. The first successful commercial culturing of round saltwater pearls began in the early 1900s, and nowadays cultured pearls have almost completely replaced natural pearls.
Pearls have been used to cure medicinal ailments since their first discovery by man. In many cultures across the world, pearls have been used for medicinal purposes, ranging from aphrodisiacs to cures for insanity. Jewellery may be worn to ward of any ailments or help in the healing process but pearls are also known to have been ground up and made into lotions and potions to treat a wide variety of ailments and conditions.
Pink pearls and Sterling Silver Birthstone Bracelet
Julie x
Wow, when I bought this top from Wallis in Debenhams the other day, I never realised just how many items of jewellery I have for sale that go with it. I have created this set showing it with the Amethyst and Vermeil Necklace, and my favourite, the Turquoise Nuggets and Silver Necklace. I swear Turquoise was made to go with silver. I just love, love, love it!