Rarest, most valuable, and symbolic of all gems, the allure of the pearl dates back as early as the twenty-third century B.C. To both the Ancient Greeks and the Hindus, pearls were sacred wedding gems thought to bring love and prosperity to a marriage. It was customary for all guests of the wedding to be adorned with pearls. earls have been prized for thousands of years. Their mysterious beauty is matched by the mystery of their provenance in ancient times. As pearls were traded through trade routes of the ancient world now lost in the mists of time, the origins of some of the most important pearls in history remain uncertain. What is certain, however, is that the most prized of all pearls were oceanic pearls.
Unlike freshwater pearl, oceanic (saltwater) pearls have properties from the sea that preserve their beauty for generations. Freshwater pearls tend to become chalky or milky over a relatively short time. And unlike their freshwater cousins, oceanic pearls are valued for their regular shape and superior size. But the factor in history that made oceanic pearls the most valued of all was their rarity. Early pearl fishers risked the many dangers of the deep to dive for the precious gems.
Today, wars may no longer be waged over pearl beds, but just as in ancient times, divers still face the perils of the deep in the quest for the perfect pearl jewelry.
Throughout history, the rarity and ethereal beauty of pearls has given rise to many myths and legends. In ancient times, Indians believed that pearls were created by a divine power that transformed drops of dew. In Persian mythology, pearls are created from the tears of the gods while another Persian name for pearls is the hildren of light, revering the pearl as gifts from the gods. The Chinese believed that pearls were created by the power of moonlight.
In China, where pearl oysters have been gathered for thousands of years in freshwater rivers and the southern coasts, the character for ‘pearl’ appears for the first time in a dictionary written in 1000 BC.
Besides, the fashion for pearls spread among the wealthier middle class throughout Europe and in many countries, including England, France, Germany and Italy. Pearl laws were passed aiming to curb the inflationary demand on pearl jewelry prices and the outflow of gold. The passion for pearls continued to grow unabated and through the Baroque age, the Rococo period and the Napoleonic age became firmly established as an essential accessory in any wealthy and fashionable woman’s wardrobe.
