Pearls Archives

GIA Holiday Shopping Guide: How to Buy Pearls 101

December 11, 2014

Captivated by pearls? You’re certainly in good company. A favorite of legendary women including Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth, these beautiful spheres are the only precious gems made from a living creature – the mollusk. (more…)

History of Cultured Pearls, Part Two: The South Seas and Tahiti

July 28, 2014

In the past century, pearls have gone from some of the most expensive and rarest objects to jewelry that many of us can afford.

How this happened and what the future holds is a fascinating story. In part one of our series on cultured pearls we discussed how three Japanese men created techniques to produce the first akoya cultured pearls, which gave birth to the modern cultured pearl industry. Today, we dive into South Sea cultured pearls, Tahitian cultured pearls, and the rise of China as a leading cultured pearl producer.

Ready to set sail and learn about these treasures? (more…)

History of Cultured Pearls – Part 1

June 30, 2014

Before the development of cultured pearls, only natural pearls were available – and their value was astronomical.

“I’m going to have the most expensive dinner in history,” Cleopatra supposedly boasted to Marc Anthony. She then dissolved a large natural pearl in a goblet of wine and drank it. Then there was the Roman general, Vitellius (15 A.D.-69 A.D.), who sold a natural pearl from one of his mother’s earrings to cover the expenses of a military campaign. (more…)

Meet the Mollusks

June 23, 2014

A strand of pearls is one of the most glamorous pieces of jewelry a woman can wear, yet these lustrous beauties have humble origins.

Pearls are produced by mollusks – soft-bodied saltwater or freshwater animals possessing one (univalve) or two (bivalve) shells. Mollusks are invertebrates meaning they lack a spine or vertebrae. Scientists estimate there are over 100,000 different species of mollusks in the world’s waters. However, only a few dozen of these species produce pearls and only about half of them are used to produce cultured pearls. (more…)

Pearl Buying Guide

June 1, 2014

Perhaps the most popular gem of all time, June’s birthstone–the pearl–is as versatile as they come. Considered by many to be a staple of every woman’s wardrobe, the pearl is quite likely the earliest gem used for adornment. Our early ancestors foraged seashores and riverbeds collecting mother of pearl shells for ceremony and exchange – and when the rare pearl was found, it became a sacred possession. (more…)

The Fascinating Faceted Cultured Pearl

May 22, 2014

The pearl has been shrouded in myth and mystery since antiquity.

The ancient Romans imagined they were the tears of gods and angels. The ancient Chinese thought they offered protection from fire-breathing dragons. And Europeans believed they symbolized modesty, chastity, and purity. (more…)

Pearls are Regarded as Symbols of Wealth and Power

June 1, 2012

The June birthstone, the pearl, has a long and rich history. For many young women, pearls are just something you wear when you wanted to look classy and put together. But the unique creation of the pearl, the only gem made from a living creature, tells us that this is an incredibly special little sphere. (more…)

GIA 4Cs Diamond Blog

GIA 4Cs Diamond Blog

GIA Holiday Shopping Guide: How to Buy Pearls 101

History of Cultured Pearls, Part Two: The South Seas and Tahiti

History of Cultured Pearls – Part 1

Meet the Mollusks

Pearl Buying Guide

The Fascinating Faceted Cultured Pearl

Pearls are Regarded as Symbols of Wealth and Power

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