A History Of Pearls

Known for centuries as the “queen of gems,” the pearl has a fascinating history. Throughout the ages, a natural pearl was recognized as a treasure beyond measure. At one time, a pearl necklace was the most expensive jewelry in the world. Today, a string of pearls is often an accessory to other gemstones.

Before cultured pearls were cultivated in the early twentieth century, wild or natural pearls were so rare that only nobility could afford them. Women today often take their pearls for granted, but at the height of the Roman Empire, generals could finance an entire military campaign with one pearl.

George F. Kunz, an American gem collector who wrote “The Book of the Pearl” in 1908, speculated that a fish-eating tribe in India first appreciated the beauty of saltwater pearls. The sacred books of India contain numerous pearl references. The importance of pearls is also evident in China’s history. The ancient Egyptians used “mother of pearl” long before actual pearls, and Roman women sewed pearls into their gowns and furniture upholstery.

The Arabs show a great love for pearls, as seen in the Koran. Its description of Paradise is filled with pearl references. Great oyster beds lay in the Persian Gulf and in the Red Sea. Most Chinese pearls are freshwater pearls, while Japanese pearls are saltwater pearls. Almost all of the natural pearls sold today originated from these sources.

European colonizers in the New World discovered pearl jewelry among the native Americans. Using slaves to dive for pearls, they found freshwater gems in several American river basins. They exported so many pearls to Europe that America was known as the “land of pearls.” They also produced mother of pearl buttons for export.

Pearls from other regions came on the market, too – black pearls in Tahiti and Mexico, and white pearls in Central and South America. Then, as overfishing and industrialization depleted North American oyster beds, a man from Japan began to entice oysters to create pearls on demand. He did not know that two other Japanese men had already discovered the secret of cultured pearls.

These discoveries revolutionized pearling. Today, most pearl jewelry pieces use cultured pearls. The Pearl Source is an example of a wholesaler that imports these pearls from Japan, the South and various freshwater regions of the world. These companies supply loose pearls to pearl jewelers in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere.

Many of these companies are also retailers who sell cultured pearl strands to online customers. People who shop online at www.thepearlsource.com can find exquisite pearl jewelry in a range of prices. Among the quality collections are white Akoya pearls, black Tahitian pearls, pink freshwater pearls and golden South Sea pearls set in rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants, and strand necklaces.