Pearl is a well-known and well-worn gemstone. You might have heard that pearls are called “Queen of Jewels,” and people adored pearls 1000 years ago. It is the most beautiful and unique gem that still holds long-standing popularity. No matter how many luxurious ornaments you own, nothing shines like pearls.
Interesting Facts about Pearls
Scroll down to know these breathtaking pearls facts that you may not be aware of.
Pearls Are the Unique Gemstone to Come from a Living Creature
Despite referring to it as a gemstone, it is coming from a living creature. Pearls are different from other gems such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds, etc. All other gems are created in the Earth’s crust when magma cools down under heavy pressure.
How Many Types of Pearls Are There?
- A. Seven
- B. Eight
- C. Ten
- D. Five
How Are Pearls Formed?
It is believed that pearls are produced when sand enters into a mollusk species like an oyster, clam, or mussel. Do you know the science behind pearl making? The pearl is produced when the foreign parasite or the organism enters a mollusk’s shell and disrupts life’s nature. As a result, the mollusk conceals a fluid to survive. This fluid’s several layers are collected over time, which forms the lustrous gem called a pearl.
Natural Pearls Are the Rarest Gemstones in the World
Natural pearls that are formed in oysters are rare rather than those cultivated in the lab. You can find pearls less than 1 in every 10,000 oysters.
The World’s Most Valuable Pearl Is Estimated at $100 Million
This was discovered until 2016, kept under the bed for around a decade as a good luck charm. The home where this pearl was stored was burnt down. The fisherman discovered the pearl from the coast of the Philippines. It is 26 inches in length and weighs more than 5 stones. It was known as the largest pearl ever known to exist.
Cleopatra Used Pearls to Win a Bet
As reported by a famous legend, Cleopatra wanted to make Mark Anthony believe that she could host the most luxurious dinner in history. She was remembered for wearing the world’s largest pearls of her time that she wore as earrings. She commanded her servants to bring her potent vinegar and put one of the pearls into the vinegar to dissolve it. She drank the cocktail that could be considered the world’s most expensive cocktail. She won the bet.
It Is Considered That Only 1% of Pearls Used in Jewellery Are Natural
About 99 percent of the pearls are cultivated rather than coming from the natural source. Kokichi Mikimoto was the one who successfully produced the first cultivated pearl in 1896, and this inspired others to produce more.
During the Julius Caesar Period, Only Aristocrats Were Permitted to Wear Pearls
During 1BC, Julius Caesar announced a new law which stated that only rulers from Ancient Rome were allowed to wear pearls. The reason behind this was pearls symbolize wealth, prestige, and high social status. Hence pearls were meant to be worn by the highest class people only.
There Are Four Main Types
The well-known and widely available pears are called freshwater pearls. They are mainly grown in deep water sources, mainly in China. The Japanese Akoya pearl is known as the saltwater pearl, sometimes known as the most well-established kind of pearl. They can be found in Japan and China waters. Tahitian pearls are cultivated pearls mainly found in the islands of French Polynesia, are considered saltwater pearls. They come in hues like purple, grey, green and blue.
Lastly, South Sea Pearls are found in the waters of the Philippines and Australia. They are the largest pearls available in the world. The shade of these pearls is cream, white or golden.