ALL ABOUT PEARLS
Honesty & integrity
The pearl is possibly the most beloved gemstone in human history. It is created by mussels in rivers and the sea - the only gemstone created by a living animal, along with coral. Pearls come in numerous shapes, sizes and colors, which you can learn more about here.
JUNE'S BIRTHSTONE
The pearl is June's birthstone together with Moonstone, and is therefore the birthstone of the zodiac signs Gemini and Cancer. Each month has its very own birthstone, making jewellery set with a birthstone a personal and thoughtful gift.
Wearing your birthstone is said to bring good luck. You can wear your own birthstone as a lucky charm or your loved one's birthstone as a love symbol
SYMBOLISM - THE PEARL
Pearl is the gemstone of honesty and purity. The pearl focuses on integrity, sincerity and truth. Throughout time, it has also been a symbol of abundance and luxury.
THE SPIRITUAL POWERS OF THE PEARL
The pearl differs from other crystals, but even though the pearl is not a 'true' mineral, it is still recognized as having the same metaphysical properties as other gems.
The pearl is known as a healing gemstone that guides the wearer to inner wisdom and provides a physical balance to its wearer. The gem is also said to absorb negative energy as well as protect your aura, thus aligning your chakra with the third eye to increase intuition and clarity.
HOW TO CARE FOR PEARL JEWELLERY
Pearls and pearl jewellery require careful care. Avoid direct sunlight and high humidity for long periods. Pearls thrive best when worn often, as the skin's natural oils help to maintain the pearl's shine. When cleaning your pearl jewellery, gently polish the pearl with a soft cloth to maintain their metaphysical properties and the pearl's natural shine. Remember that you can also have your jewellery professionally cleaned at Carré.
HOW IS A PEARL FORMED?
In nature, a pearl is formed when a foreign object such as a grain of sand or a small animal sneaks into the mussel and it begins to cover it with countless layers of nacre to protect itself.
CULTIVATION OF PEARLS
"Culturized pearl" is an expression that a pearl is cultured - but quite genuine. Almost all pearls on the market today are cultured pearls that are grown on pearl farms. They are cultivated by inserting foreign bodies/implants into the tissues of the mussels. The mussels are placed back in the water where they will cover the implants with countless layers of mother of pearl. The pearls can be harvested 6-18 months later.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FRESHWATER AND SALTWATER PEARLS?
As the names suggest, the difference between freshwater and saltwater pearls is the environment and the type of mussel they are grown in. Both types of pearls are cultured and can have all shapes. Saltwater pearls are often more expensive as they take longer to grow. At Carré we always use real freshwater pearls.
THE SHAPES OF THE PEARL
Pearls come in all shapes. Among the most popular shapes are:
Round: Perfect spherical pearl
Oval: Elongated pearl.
Drop: Pear/tear-shaped pearl.
Baroque: Asymmetric/uneven pearl.
KESHI PEARLS
Keshi Pearls consist of 100% Mother of Pearl and don’t have an artificially placed core like cultivated pearls do. The Keshi pearl occurs naturally in the clam’s tissue when pearls of other shapes are cultivated in the same clam. The Keshi Pearl is characterized by its flat, baroque shape, which sort of resembles cornflakes.
MABE PEARLS
The Mabe Pearl is a pearl that is created on the inside of the clam’s shell, whereas other pearls are created in the clam’s tissue. That’s why Mabe Pearls always have a flat backside.
THE PEARL THROUGH HISTORY
You can date the use of pearls several thousand years back in time, worn as a symbol of luxury and wealth. The Egyptian queen Cleopatra is said to have dissolved a large pearl into a glass of wine, just to demonstrate her wealth. The pearl has been loved by many iconic women such as Marie Antoinette, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy and Coco Chanel.
SHOP PEARL JEWELLERY
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