Pearls are the traditional birthstone for June, and they have a rich history - ancients from the Middle East believed that pearls were teardrops fallen from heaven, and in China it was said that the June birthstone came from the brain of a dragon. Christopher Columbus and his contemporaries thought that molluscs formed pearls from dew drops.
A natural gemstone created by oysters, pearls are the result of irritants making their way into a mollusc (whether manufactured or naturally occurring). From there the mollusc secretes layers and layers of fluid to coat the irritant until a solid pearl is formed.
Both natural and modern cultured pearls occur in a wide variety of colours. The most familiar colours are white and cream. Black, grey and silver pearls are also fairly common, but the palette of pearl colours extends to pink, blue and green hues.
Pearls have always been a focal point of fashion, and have long been associated with aristocrats and royalty. Their classic style status was cemented by influential women such as Coco Channel, Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn. Today pearls are just as relevant and
A plethora of designers have sent them down the catwalk this spring and celebrities including Harry Styles, Taylor Swift and Sarah Jessica Parker, pearls are becoming more youthful and less stuffy.
The current trend is more about adding a feminine touch to contrast with casual outfits and less about creating a twinset and pearls classic look. Whether it’s pearl accents on clothing, pearl jewellery, or home decor, pearls are here to stay!
