A Grain of Sand.....

A couple months ago I wrote a post about hematite.. which I seem to use a lot of in my jewelry designs. This month I decided to write a little about freshwater pearls - also something I seem to be drawn to and incorporate in much of my work.

Pearls are the birthstone for those born in June so this seemed like the perfect time to write about them. (can you believe it's June already???)

Pearls symbolize the best within us. Honesty, Purity, Wisdom and Integrity.

They remind us to walk with Dignity.

Have you ever seen a woman wearing Pearls acting in an undignified manner? Did you have the oddest feeling? That's because they just don't mix.

Pearls can stimulate your femininity and help with self acceptance. They lift your spirits and make you feel calm and beautiful. When have you not felt ultra-feminine when wearing pearls? - even with your favorite jeans!

Natural freshwater pearls occur in mussels for the same reason that saltwater pearls occur in oysters. Foreign material, usually a sharp object or parasite, enters a mussel and cannot be expelled. To reduce irritation, the mollusk coats the intruder with the same secretion it uses for shell-building, nacre.

Freshwater pearls come from freshwater mussels and are primarily produced by China. Freshwater pearls come in various pastel shades of white, black, pink, peach, lavender, plum, purple, and tangerine, depending on the type of mussel. The typical size of freshwater pearls is 2mm - 16mm with 7mm - 8mm being the most common.

Metaphysical Properties: It is believed they produce endurance and emotional stability and are beneficial to lungs. Freshwater pearls enable one to accept great love, and stand for purity, beauty and compassion.

Freshwater pearls are given on the 1st wedding anniversary. Pearls are also given on the 3rd, 12th and 30th anniversaries.

Folklore, Legend, and Healing Properties:
Cultured or freshwater pearls are considered to offer the power of love, money, protection, and luck. Pearls are thought to give wisdom through experience, to quicken the laws of karma and to cement engagements and love relationships. They are thought to keep children safe.
The Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed women from crying.

Today, all pearls are cultured, as opposed to natural -- but their color is naturally produced by the oyster (or mussel).

Color does not affect the quality of a pearl, but does affect the perceived beauty of the pearl according to the individual taste of the "eye of the beholder". Generally, pearls assume the color of the shell in which they form.

Some colors have become more popular than others in particular markets. For example, white pearls are the most popular in America, while silver are more sought after in Asia.

What color should you wear??? A general guideline is skin tone. Many women with fair or light colored skin feel rose overtones look best. While women with dark skin or tan easily find black or cream overtones look best. What color you choose should be based on the personal preference of the person who will wear the pearls.

p.s. all of the items shown in this post are available in my shop - along with lots of other wonderful things!!