June’s birthstone is
The oyster uses nature’s most wonderful defense mechanism.
When a grain of sand or other irritant becomes lodged in an oyster, it
surrounds the foreign substance with a nacre coating. This forms a pearl. When
the irritant is introduced by man, the result is a cultured pearl.
Pearls can be found in a wide variety of shapes, sizes,
colors, and luster. All of these attributes affect the value of a pearl. High
luster, perfectly round, large pearls are the most valuable. The pearl’s natural
colors include white, cream and gold, grey, blue and black with shades of rose,
purple and green. Other colors can be created by dyeing, bleaching, and
chemical treatment.
A romantic gem, pearls have long been associated with
lovers. They have seen centuries of use in love potions and were believed to
turn your dreams into true romance if you wore them during sleep. Pearls have
come to symbolize a successful marriage and are now recognized as a traditional
gift for brides and in celebration of the third and thirtieth anniversaries.
Pearls are delicate and demand gentle care. Store them in a protective fabric pouch or wrap them in tissue paper. Avoid household chemicals, hairspray, cosmetics and perfumes, as these will affect a pearl’s luster. Never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. Only use a soft damp cloth, mild soap and water to clean your pearls. With the proper care, your pearls can be an heirloom piece to pass down through the generations.
Stop by to see our huge selection of pearl jewelry!
