The Pearl: A Cultural Treasure Through the Ages

A Gift of Nature

Pearls are a natural wonder that have been treasured for centuries by cultures ancient and modern all over the world. Greek mythology proclaimed pearls to be tears of joy shed by the goddess Aphrodite. Ancient Egyptians associated pearls with Isis, the goddess of healing and life.

The Pearl was Prized by Rulers and Royalty

Julius Caesar limited the wearing of pearls to the rulers of the Roman Empire during the first century B.C. In the glory days of the British Empire, only royalty were allowed to wear these lustrous gems.

Noted in Legends and Literature

Tribal Indians, too, believed that pearls were tears of their gods. An Arab legend weaves a tale of dewdrops filled with moonlight that fell into the ocean and were swallowed by oysters, creating the precious pearls. The gates of Heaven are made of pearl, according to the King James Bible. The list goes on and on. There are many more references to the pearl in works of great literature, and the lustrous jewels are often seen in paintings as jewelry, hair decorations and clothing adornments.

Pearls have Always Been Valued and Cherished

Native Americans may indeed have settled for strings of beads taken in trade for the island of Manhattan. But a few centuries later, in 1916, renown French jeweler Jacques Cartier acquired land there for his first American store. The price? Two pearl necklaces.

This long and storied past only adds to the appeal of the incomparable pearl, cherished today as a traditional wedding gift, a birthstone, and in jewelry that reflects taste and refinement.

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