What Does Pearl Symbolize?

Information about pearls can be found in sources several thousand years old: in the Indian Vedas and on Persian clay tablets. In ancient mythology, it was considered the tears of mermaids or angels. Moreover, pearls are supposed to be the most ancient gemstones, which began to be used in jewelry because they could be used "as is" without any additional processing.

The process of pearl formation is unique. These little beads appear inside the shell as a result of a foreign body getting there. The shell starts to envelop the foreign body with nacre, and that is how pearls are formed.
Precisely because of their origin, pearls are an organometal, consisting of an aggregate of calcium carbonate and horny substance-conchiolin.

TYPES OF PEARLS

Pearls are classified by color, method, and place of origin.
The color of pearls can be cream, silver, white, gold, black, brown, and even blue. There are many more shades.
Particularly popular are white and black pearls.

Black pearls have a cold dark-silver color with a darker shade. The only place where black pearls are mined is Tahiti. Black Pearl symbolism represents mystery, independence, power, and wealth.

White pearl is the most common type of pearl, which is now used in jewelry of all kinds. White Pearl symbolism is innocence, beauty, sincerity, and new beginnings.

Pearls can be wild or cultured, i.e. artificially grown. The most expensive are the "wild" sea pearls. This is because their production is complicated by the fact that divers have to dive to the depths, and as we know, it is very dangerous. Mainly they are mined in Japan, Sri Lanka, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea. One may encounter such pearls only at auctions or in the premium stores.

It is worth mentioning that until the 20th century, pearls were mined only by diving into the water. This was one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. But by the end of the 19th century, the enterprising Kokichi Mikimoto came up with a safe way of producing pearls. In 1893, he put a foreign body into a shell and within 2-3 years it turned into a pearl. Later he patented this method, and nowadays this is how the beloved pearls are grown. These artificially cultured pearls are not inferior to the natural ones.

There are two kinds of pearls: freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls.

Sea pearls are grown in seawater and have a rounded flat shape; its pearl nacre layer is quite thin, which is why they are prone to tarnish with time. It may be available in different sizes, from 6 to 18 mm.

River pearls are mined in the rivers; they have a more rugged surface, but a thicker nacre layer, which does not wear off with time. They may be up to 7mm in diameter.

Pearls are also classified by shape:

• Classic pearls are round in shape.
• Baroque pearls are irregularly shaped.
• Button - flat on one side.
• Keishi - arbitrary shape.

PEARL METAPHYSICAL MEANING

Pearls symbolism and their metaphysical properties are extremely interesting:

• Brings a person good luck.
• Provides harmony and peace.
• It is a symbol of beauty and innocence.
• It protects from unrequited love.
• It is said to be a symbol of longevity, prosperity, and well-being.
• In the East, a ring with a pearl is said to protect against thieves and dishonest deals.

From ancient times, pearls have been used to cure various diseases:

• They help with diseases of the kidneys and digestive system.
• Pearls are used for the treatment of eye diseases.
• Help with nervous disorders. It is a styptic.
• Therapeutic drinking of pearl water prepared according to the Ayurveda system is also useful. Such water has a restorative and bio stimulating effect, helps with inflammation, poisoning, fevers, liver diseases, and cholelithiasis, normalizes the menstrual cycle.