Although they come in a variety of colors--pastel, black, blue, gold--and shapes that range from spherical to teardrop, the most popular pearls are the small, spherical balls that have immortalized the stone as a sign of sophistication and understated class. Their appearance invokes in them a sense of purity, and variations on that theme, including wisdom, integrity, modesty, and self-worth. Most significantly, their association with loyalty is likely the reason they’re so popular with brides. The value of pearls is also dependent on whether they are found in nature or cultured--that is, created using a farming technique (although still natural). The former is, understandably, much more valuable given their rarity, and can fetch up to hundreds of dollars per pearl.
The Latin for pear is ‘pirium’, meaning ‘sphere’, in honor of their most recognized shape. The oldest pearl ever discovered was unearthed by archaeologists in what is today the United Arab Emirates and dates back almost 7,500 years. Pearls have an illustrious history as the ultimate status symbol; in Ancient China, pearls were offered as gifts to members of the royal family. Pearls were so coveted in the Roman Empire that Julius Caesar passed an edict allowing only the patrician classes to wear them. The great number of oyster beds in the Persian Gulf lead an abundance of pearls in the area, and thus, a large role in Arab culture; before the advent of cultured pearls, the area was the center of pearl trade. Knights in the Middle Ages would sometimes wear pearls as a means of protection during battle. Discovery of pearls in Central and South America in the 15th and 16th centuries led to the ‘Pearl Age’, and a great demand for the jewel in Western Europe. By the 19th century, the demand began to exceed supply. Today, pearls are considered quite rare and can be occasionally found in the seas of Bahrain and Australia.
Ostreidae
CACO3
1.530 - 1.685
2.65 - 2.85
3.5 - 4 (Moh's Scale)