Those who are born in June are lucky enough to be in one of the few months that allows you to have a choice of three beautiful birthstones; alexandrite, moonstone and - the star of this post - pearl!
Photo by Jeremy Morris on Unsplash
Pearls have always been a favourite here at iapetus, no matter the tastes of the customer. They have been lovingly handmade into such a wide variety of jewellery, so there's truly something for everyone. That is why we thought it would be fun to take you through what exactly is a pearl. what they symbolise, how to care for your pearls, and of course a little look at some brilliant pieces hand crafted by our talented makers.
As well as being beautiful, pearls are well-known for being the only gemstone created by a living organism - which is what makes them as unique as the people born in this month. They are naturally created when an irritant (such as a grain of sand or a parasite) get inside the shell of a mollusk and so it coats the irritant in a substance called nacre, giving them that gorgeous creamy colour and lustre.
However, pearls can also be created with human intervention and these are known as cultured pearls. Cultured pearls can be farmed in both freshwater and saltwater. Made when a non pearl body is placed into a mollusk for it to then cover in a thinner layer of nacre. Because of this, cultured pearls come in a whole range of fantastic colours and sizes.
For as far back as we can remember, pearls have been treasured and worn as statement jewellery to show your wealth and power. They have been connected to women especially, a famous story still told today being how Cleopatra dissolved a pearl in her wine then drank it to demonstrate her wealth to Marc Antony.
But what is it that we associate these lovely gemstones with today? The most common meanings we see are purity, loyalty, and innocence. Therefore, they are often the stone of choice for brides on their wedding day. Pearl, the "Stone of Truth, Faith and Love," enhances personal integrity and helps provide focus and deep meaning to the object of your attention, bringing you wisdom and spiritual guidance. Pearl signifies sincerity, faith and loyalty to your cause.
Due to the nature of how June's birthstone is formed, pearls have a rather soft surface in comparison to other gems. This means extra care must be taken to make sure the pearls stay as beautiful as the day you bought them. Keep them safe and sound from any other jewellery to avoid scratches and make sure to put them on after you've put on any perfume or cosmetics. It's reccommended that your pearl jewellery is the last thing put on but the first thing taken off. Finally, try to wipe them with a soft cloth after wearing and clean them simply using a damp cloth. To make things a little easier, we even stock a pearl care kit which you can find here...
Now that we know all about pearls, let's take a look at some beautiful pearl jewellery we're lucky enough to have in our collection.
This gorgeous willow double leaves gold plated silver pendant with pearl is a new addition to our fantastic range of work by UK jeweller, Fi Mehra. Crafted by hand curling in silver the inside of the leaves are gold plated creating a stunning contrast between the two precious metals and finished off with a freshwater pearl.
These stunning pebble grey pearl and turquoise drop earrings by London based jewellery designer Katherine Bree allow the beautiful grey pearl take centre stage. These large pearls make quite the statement and the earring's design makes them super comfortable to wear.
This pretty and pink pearl and pewter hand knotted bracelet is a lovely affordable option if you want to add some pearls to your collection or buying a little gift for a friend. Created by Metal Planet, these irregular rose coloured pearls truly make this an unusual piece and the bracelet is held together at the end with a t-bar clasp.
Pearls come in so many fascinating shapes and sizes, such as these gorgeous large keshi pearl studs by Fiona Mackay. Keshi pearls are created when an oyster decides to reject a pearl before it is completely developed, meaning they are all unique. You're sure not to find any other pearl studs quite as special.
Sometimes a simple pearl can be the little added touch that can really pull a design together. Such as, these beautiful gold plated flying be with pearl hoop earrings. This timeless design from Alex Monroe is full of incredible detail and craftmanship, making the perfect gift for any lover of our buzzing garden friends.