According to the ancients, Pearls were teardrops that had fallen from the moon and into the seas where they were consumed by simple oysters. Pearls were cherished by the ancient Greeks since they considered them to transmit feelings of love. Pearls were always included in their elaborate weddings.
Pearls were strongly valued by the ancient Romans. To them, pearls symbolized prominence and prosperity even to the point of forbidding that anyone unworthy of the value of pearls should not possess them. Anciently, Roman women upholstered their fine furnishings. They also incorporated many rows of pearls securely stitched onto their clothing, at that time they were well known for trampling on the pearls attached at their hemlines.
Pearls were useful in many ancient cultures as they were often included for their medicinal and metaphysical properties and purposes, which did vary for restoring health as well as for aphrodisiacs.
Pearls were ground and included as ingredients for healing ointments, tonics and balms. Their therapeutic influence was easily taken advantage of by wearing pearls as jewelry. Interestingly, pearls are adequate for the manufacturing of modern pharmaceuticals such as finely powdered pearls of low-grade quality which is included in formulas to produce high-quality pharmaceutical calcium supplements. As you can see pearls are an especially influential treasure.
Pearls are the consequence of an irritant that is naturally established into shellfish and mollusk, this combination eventually forms a natural pearl. When an irritant is artificially introduced into the mollusk or shellfish it will produce artificial pearls. Naturally, the shellfish will begin its natural process of protection from invading foreign material by enclosing the irritant with a nacre substance. This is the same nacre that the shell is formed of. After being enclosed and covered with nacre, a pearl will eventually form from this union. In essence, the process is likened to the eyes forming a matte over a stray eyelash that becomes lodged in the eye.
There are two categories that pearls are classified into and they are saltwater pearls and freshwater pearls.
- Saltwater Pearls
Oysters produce saltwater pearls and they are found in the oceans and most often produced within the boundary of various protected lagoons. The harvesting of pearls takes place anywhere from eight months to six years, depending of course upon the cultivation process uses to produce them. In many occurrences, cultivated pearls are considered less valuable than natural pearls.
- Freshwater Pearls
Freshwater mussels found in natural bodies of fresh water such as ponds, lakes and rivers produce freshwater pearls.
Pearls are assessed by seven different features. However, luster is most often the most primary and substantial gauge of appraising cultured pearls and their characteristics. Other aspects that are noteworthy involve the size, shape, color, weight and the thickness of the nacre of a pearl. The most valuable pearls are judged on the balance of the total features of the pearl rather than singling out just a few of the various attributes of an individual pearl.
© 2009 Sara Valor
