Umpteen Shades Of Pearl

The pearls next door

Pearls. Aren’t they celestial and unfailingly elegant? Have you ever wondered why the threshold to heaven is called the “Pearly gates”?

Pearls are the only gemstones formed inside a living creature and nothing can beat the mystique and glorious charm they have. There’s a reason why all fashion icons have had love-affairs with them; it's because they exude sophistication. They are timeless, classic and versatile, like Jackie Kennedy once quipped, “Pearls are always appropriate.” The quintessential exemplar, could be Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur who donned pearl strings almost at all the times along with her signature chiffon sarees. Also, who can forget Princess Diana’s obsession for a pearl choker.

This alluring gem has a rich cultural and historical significance as well. According to ancient Chinese belief, the moon holds the power to create pearls, while Ancient Arabic legend credits the birth of pearls to the dewdrops filled with moonlight which fell into the ocean and then got swallowed by oysters. 

No grit. No pearl

The process of formation of pearls throws a major life lesson.

Natural pearls are formed by a piece of grit getting into the oyster shell, and in order to protect itself from the irritation of the grit, the oyster begins to form defensive layers over the grit, embracing it, and over time evolving into a beautiful pearl. 

Buddhism has a meaningful term for it called Dukkha which refers to suffering and discomfort, which human life comes with and one should embrace it, to evolve as a winner in life.

On the other hand, cultured pearls are made almost in the same fashion, except that the pearl farmers deliberately embed grit into the oyster shells to create this impact. Grit, hard work and perseverance results in the birth of the most sought-after jewel piece in the world.

Types 

• Freshwater pearls

Freshwater pearls are popular, with a distinguishing characteristic of rarely being in perfect round shapes. 

• South Sea Pearls

South Sea pearls are rare, huge and of exceptional quality. Their size differentiates them from other pearls and their smoothness and roundness are near to perfect. 

• Akoya Pearls

Akoya Pearls were the first-round cultured pearls. They stand out from the rest of the pearls because of their brilliant mirror-like lustre.

• Tahitian Pearls

These are the only pearls that come in exotic natural colours. Mostly black, the Tahitian pearls also come in shades of dark green, brown and blue. 

• Biwa Pearls

Biwa pearls get their name from the Japan’s largest lake- Biwa, from where they originate. They are known for their unique shapes and unusual contours. 

• Baroque Pearls

What makes Baroque pearls distinct from the conventional round shaped pearls is that that they come in fun shapes and sizes.

Freshwater Pearls are Unique and timeless