Pearl History
a brief history of pearls
A Brief History of Pearls
The Romans and Egyptians prized pearls and used them as decorative items as far back as the 5th Century BC. Chinese records mention them earlier still.
Pearl Guide
a brief history of pearls
how pearls are formed
pearl qualities and grades
pearl shapes and colours
pearl sizes and comparisons
choosing and caring for pearls
buying pearls - tricks and traps
a brief history of pearls how pearls are formed pearl qualities and grades pearl shapes and colours pearl sizes and comparisons choosing and caring for pearls buying pearls - tricks and traps
Cleopatra is said to have crushed a pearl into a glass of wine to prove to Marc Antony that she could give the most expensive dinner in history.At the height of the Roman Empire a general paid for a military campaign by selling a pair of his mother's pearl earrings. History does not record what his mother had to say about this.
Famous pearl wearers include Queen Elizabeth 1 of England, Jaqueline Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor.
Pearls have a place in Hindu, Islamic and Christian traditions - often to symbolise purity and perfection.
The principal oyster beds lay in the Persian Gulf, along the coasts of India and in the Red Sea. Chinese pearls came mostly from rivers and lakes whilst Japanese pearls were found in salt water.
As Europe expanded into the New World and pearl beds were discovered in the waters of Central and South America, pearls became increasingly popular at the royal courts of Europe. Some countries passed laws forbidding all but nobility to wear them.
The popularity of pearls came at a price. By the 1800's overfishing had depleted most of the American oyster populations. Until the end of the 19th century, pearls were available only to the rich.
In the early 1900's, a revolution in pearl production occured. Kokichi Mikimoto, son of a Japanese noodle maker, harnessed techniques for introducing an irritant into the oyster to stimulate the secretion of nacre which forms the pearl.
As Europe expanded into the New World and pearl beds were discovered in the waters of Central and South America, pearls became increasingly popular at the royal courts of Europe. Some countries passed laws forbidding all but nobility to wear them.
The popularity of pearls came at a price. By the 1800's overfishing had depleted most of the American oyster populations. Until the end of the 19th century, pearls were available only to the rich.
In the early 1900's, a revolution in pearl production occured. Kokichi Mikimoto, son of a Japanese noodle maker, harnessed techniques for introducing an irritant into the oyster to stimulate the secretion of nacre which forms the pearl.
Rome in the first century lusted for pearls and didn't hesitate to plunder it's conquered territories for the gems.
The Emperor Caligula (41 AD), having made his horse a consul, decorated it with a pearl necklace. His unfortunate subjects were not so favoured.
One place even the Romans were unable to pillage is Tahiti and the islands of French Polynesia.
The area's first pearl farm was founded in the mid-1960's but it was not until twenty years later that significant quantities of Tahitian pearls appeared on the market.
Today, even modestly priced cultured pearls can rival the quality of the most expensive natural pearls ever found.
The Emperor Caligula (41 AD), having made his horse a consul, decorated it with a pearl necklace. His unfortunate subjects were not so favoured.
One place even the Romans were unable to pillage is Tahiti and the islands of French Polynesia.The area's first pearl farm was founded in the mid-1960's but it was not until twenty years later that significant quantities of Tahitian pearls appeared on the market.
Today, even modestly priced cultured pearls can rival the quality of the most expensive natural pearls ever found.
In 1917 jeweller Pierre Cartier bought his company's Fifth Avenue headquarters in New York with $100 in cash and a two-strand natural pearl necklace valued at $1 million.
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The Pearl Market™ is a Trademark of The Pearl Market Limited © 2002-2012
Business Awards Winner Governed by UK law British Jewellers' Association Federation Member