As Coco Chanel once said, a woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls. Nowadays, we can understand this perfectly as we realize that pearls are unique among gemstones and perhaps even the most fascinating pieces of jewelry. They are spectacularly feminine and the ultimate way of making a woman look appealing and attractive.
They radiate natural elegance and glamorous charisma, whether worn around the neck or wrist. Pearls can be seen on the red carpet, on the catwalk, and on women wearing them to work every day.
In this article, we’ll talk more about these naturally beautiful and highly coveted objects and see how they’re bringing sexy back, but first let’s see their use throughout the history.
Pearls Throughout History
Pearls are said to be presents from both the goddess of love Aphrodite in Greek mythology and the goddess of love Venus in Roman mythology, according to one of the most beautiful legends.
According to another one, Cleopatra is said to have crushed a pearl in a goblet of glass to prove to Marc Anthony that she can serve the most expensive dinner ever served.
Pearls are known to be worn as ornaments back in 420 BC, thanks to the discovery of a piece of pearl jewelry in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess. It is also known that pearls were gifted to Chinese royalty as early as 2300 BC. During Roman time, pearls were regarded as such a valuable gem that Julius Caesar only allowed the ruling classes to wear them.
Moreover, pearls can be seen in many famous paintings because of their important role throughout history as a status symbol and as a myth.
We are all familiar with Botticelli’s famous Venus painting, where Venus herself, a goddess born in the ocean, is the pearl in the oyster and associated with beauty, love, and purity.
Another famous painting that shows the importance of the pearl as a symbol is Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with the Pearl Earring”. The painting’s focal point is a large, natural Tahiti pearl, and the famous painter has captured the pearl’s unique luster to such an extent that his contemporaries thought he had painted it with crushed mother of pearl.
Everyone Can Wear Them
The great thing about pearls is that they come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, and they go well with different styles, so there is something for everyone – women, men, and children.
Women have always adored the elegance and sophistication of pearls. Giving pearl necklaces to baby girls has been a time-honored tradition for more than 100 years and men have also embraced pearls as an eye-catching accessory, using them in cufflinks, bracelets, and tie tacks.
They Symbolize Traditional Values and Love
No matter the occasion, whether it’s a wedding party, an anniversary, graduation, pearls, and aluminum rings are an excellent accessories to wear or give away as a gift. Pearls reflect a special bond between you and your closest family or friends and this is why surprising someone with pearl jewelry as a gift is considered a wonderful gesture.
Delicate or bold, each and every pearl bead has its own unique shape and size making it the most attractive and distinctive embellishment that a person can wear.
Due to their timelessness, pearls are considered a symbol of people’s beliefs and values, purity, happiness, power, wisdom, and love. They radiate a calming effect and many believe they balance a person’s karma and strengthen relationships.
Pink pearls are said to symbolize success and good fortune, and black or gold pearls signify prosperity and wealth. As we mentioned previously, they are often given as gifts to our loved ones and seen as gifts of love.
They Boast Special Effects
There’s so much more to owning beautiful pearl jewelry than just its decorative function. Pearls are known to display optical diffusion or scattering. Since nacreous crystals show irregularities in their alignment, light rays are playfully scattered and diffused among the crystals.
This is also known as iridescence, which derives from refraction and reflections since the light passes through the pearl’s thin layers of aragonite and appears to emanate from within the pearl. With these special effects, wearing pearl jewelry not only gives off a mysterious vibe but also emanates seductive energy.
A Source of Fascination and Inspiration
One of the most attractive characteristics of pearls is that they’re a gift from nature, with a story to tell. While there are many mussel species, it’s fascinating that only about twenty mussels can produce pearls. The fact that they’re the only gems that are formed and found in a living creature and don’t need any special cutting or faceting makes them original and one-of-a-kind.
In addition, pearl production preserves our nature and is not hazardous to the environment. This boosts the appeal of pearls and younger generations choose them as a subtler alternative than other flashy sparkly gems.
They Last a Lifetime
Last but not least, we absolutely love wearing pearls because they’re fine jewelry pieces, luminous and magical, and the epitome of femininity. For most people, sexy means power, strength, and wealth, and pearls are the only precious gems that fall right into that category.
High-quality pearls are very durable because of the thick nacre and top surface quality, which is very important to know if you’re keen on buying Akoya, South Sea, or Tahitian pearls.
Whatever type of pearls you decide to buy, knowing how to properly take care of them will guarantee that they will last for generations and tell a story.
Final Thoughts
The allure of pearls continues to hold a special place in people’s hearts and jewelry boxes, as they create a sophisticated feel that goes beyond any other gemstone produced today. They’re organic, environmentally friendly, available in all shapes and colors which makes them the perfect luxury gem.
The whimsy of pearls, their uncommon shapes, and surface features, makes them hugely irresistible and sought-after.