A summer rain falls, and under the umbrella, a person walks away with a lantern, the coolness soaking into their heart. Unable to witness the fleeting splendor of the world, the moon sheds sorrowful tears, which transform into june birthstone pearls—flawless, pure, and elegant.
Pearls are one of the oldest gemstones in history, symbolizing wealth and status in ancient times. During the famous “Pearl Age” in Europe, the British royal family once passed a law that prohibited common people from wearing pearls, reserving them exclusively for royalty. In China’s Qing Dynasty, pearls became a royal treasure, with the emperor’s crown jewels made from pearls. Additionally, in ancient China, pearls were often used as gifts during weddings to symbolize completeness and harmony.
The first gift Princess Diana received after marrying into the British royal family was a pearl jewelry set.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was particularly fond of pearls, believing they were an essential accessory to enhance a woman’s grace and elegance. She was very particular about how she wore pearls—sometimes wearing a single strand of pearls when meeting foreign dignitaries in the morning, two strands when greeting distinguished guests in the afternoon, and three strands when meeting friends in the evening.
Pearls are recognized as the birthstone for June in the international jewelry world. Pearls are dignified and elegant, striking without being seductive, luxurious without being gaudy. They symbolize humility and purity and represent a happy and fulfilling marriage, serving as the traditional gemstone for the 30th wedding anniversary.
The English name for pearl, “Pearl,” comes from the Latin word Pernulo. Another name for pearls is “Margarite,” which comes from ancient Persian Sanskrit, vividly illustrating the pearl’s origin as “the child of the sea.”
Pearl Classification
Currently, pearls in the market are mainly classified by water source into freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls (South Sea pearls, Tahitian pearls, and Japanese saltwater pearls).
freshwater pearls
Common colors include light yellow, white, pink, gray, and purple-black, while typical shapes include button-shaped, corn-shaped, irregular, and oval. The diameter typically ranges from 3 to 12mm. Freshwater pearls account for 80% of the world’s production, and China hosts the China (International) Pearl Festival annually.
South Sea pearls
These are saltwater pearls produced in the South Pacific Ocean, with major production areas including Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Grown in large Pinctada maxima oysters, they can reach sizes up to 20mm, making them the largest among all types of pearls. Typically, their size ranges from 10 to 13mm, with South Sea pearls larger than 15mm being rare and highly valuable.
Tahitian pearls
Tahitian pearls are produced in the coral atolls of French Polynesia in the South Pacific. They account for approximately 95% of the world’s black pearl production, making Tahitian pearls almost synonymous with black pearls. Their body color can range from light flannel to dark gray, and they may also display shades of purple, green, blue, and brown, often exhibiting peacock, deep purple, or ocean blue hues. Pearls with rainbow-colored overtones are especially prized. The diameter of Tahitian pearls typically ranges from 8 to 16mm, with those over 14mm of superior quality being particularly rare and valuable.
Japanese saltwater pearls
Also known as Akoya pearls, they are produced in the coastal bays of southern Japan. Typically ranging in size from 5 to 8mm, these pearls are round or semi-round in shape and come in white, white-rose, and golden yellow colors.
How to Choose Pearls ?
Every woman should have a pearl necklace that truly belongs to her. Pearls bring elegance to a woman. The quality of pearls is evaluated based on: color, size, luster, shape, surface quality, and thickness of the nacre.
Color
Freshwater pearls are commonly found in white, pink, and purple, while saltwater pearls are typically white, gray, golden, or black. With a variety of body colors, you can choose the one that you love most. The most valuable pearls have the most pure and vibrant colors.
Size
Pearls vary in size due to their natural formation inside oysters and mussels. The saying “seven parts make a pearl, eight parts make a treasure” reflects the importance of size. Generally, pearls with a diameter of 6mm or less are not considered jewelry-grade. Pearls in the range of 7–9mm are the most commonly favored by consumers, while pearls of 10mm are already rare. Pearls over 11mm are typically found only in South Sea pearls and Tahitian pearls, and those over 13mm are considered extremely rare. For a single pearl, the larger the diameter, the higher the value. In freshwater mussels from rivers and lakes, only 1% of the production consists of round pearls over 8mm. In contrast, saltwater pearls commonly include round pearls over 11mm.
Luster
Luster is the soul of a pearl; pearls with little or no luster lack the radiance that makes them special. When selecting a pearl necklace, place it flat on a clean white soft cloth. High-quality pearls will reflect the image of a person’s face on their surface. Among pearls of the same grade, saltwater pearls generally have a brighter, more lustrous shine than freshwater pearls.
Shape
Also known as roundness, the more spherical and smooth a pearl, the higher its value. Generally, saltwater pearls have better roundness than freshwater pearls. Freshwater pearl necklaces are the most common on the market, and those with flattened or oval-shaped pearls are relatively inexpensive. Pearls that are close to round are priced slightly higher, while perfectly round pearl necklaces hold much greater value.
Surface Quality
Due to the varying environments in which pearls grow, their surfaces typically have ridges, spots, marks, pits, or dots. The size, color, location, and quantity of these imperfections determine the pearl’s surface quality. The fewer the blemishes, the higher the value. It is unlikely for an entire pearl necklace to have perfectly flawless pearls, but if imperfections are not visible from about 0.5 meters away, the necklace is generally considered of good quality.
Nacre Thickness
Saltwater pearls have concentric layers or radiating concentric layers of nacre. The thickness of the nacre is the vertical distance from the nucleus to the surface of the pearl, and the thicker the nacre, the higher the value.
Conclusion
In the vast waves, I reminisce, reminisce about the past. Appearances change, circumstances change, but feelings remain the same. In spring, I admire the blooming flowers; in autumn, I ponder the moon; in summer, I embrace the cool breeze; in winter, I listen to the falling snow. If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then pearls are crafted for a woman’s noble perfection—delicate and elegant, never tarnished by the passage of time.
To explore more about birthstones, please refer to Uncover the Hidden Magic of Birthstone with Months: Ancient Wisdom.
