Sell With a Story: How ArePearls Formed?

How are pearls formed?Discover pearl’s allureperfect for June and far

beyond—

To limit pearls to June birthdays would be a lot like limitingwater to streams and ponds. Pearl beauty, appeal, and style —whether freshwater or saltwater — finds its way into almostevery woman’s wardrobe. And thanks to cultured pearls,

developed in the early 20th century, most women can affordthem.

Pearl PersonalitiesLike most other gemstones, pearls don’t fit neatly into oneparticular category. Their subtle, luxurious beauty boastsmultiple personalities to suit the many customers who choosethem.

Pearls are feminine, fun and flirty, a personalitytypified by trending pearl fashion jewelry. Think ofSarah Jessica Parker’s style in Sex in the City.Pearls are classic simplicity — the strand and studsworn by any woman who appreciates an understated look.Think of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.Pearls are sophisticated — a long, lush strand of finelarge pearls looped around the neck or a multi-strandnecklace perhaps clustered or twisted, with or without adiamond or gemstone adornment. Think Audrey Hepburn inBreakfast At Tiffany’s.And last but not least, pearls are extravagant andspectacular. Try one-of-a-kind designer styles accentedand interwoven with diamonds and gemstones. Think ofRihanna draped in strands of pearls or Elizabeth Taylorwearing La Peregrina.

A Moment in TimeImagine that moment millennia ago when mankind firstencountered a small wondrously luminescent object. Was itround, oval, teardrop or baroque? It had no name, only itsshape, color, and dazzling luster. Was it a stone? It didn’tlook like one. It appeared almost alive. Yes, it was beautifuland unusual; surely it had some greater purpose.

We can surmise that since that moment, pearls have fascinatedus. One pearl carbon dated to 5,500 BCE — more than 7,500years ago — was buried with its owner. In all likelihood,older ones exist and sooner or later someone will find them.

So, How are Pearls Formed?The story of pearl formation sounds much like a fairytale inwhich the heroine is perceived as a threat and shut away fromthe world with no obvious possibility of redemption. So, howare pearls formed? Here’s how the tale unfolds.

Each pearl begins when an irritant somehow enters an oyster orother bi-valve mollusks. On perceiving the threat, the molluskreacts to protect its soft inner tissue. It encapsulates theirritant with successive translucent layers of nacre,smoothing its surface so oyster and irritant can coexist. Asfar as the oyster knows, the irritant will be therepermanently.

Then miraculously, someone opens the mollusk to find atreasure of great beauty. The once disdained “irritant”emerges as a pearl and enters a world of love and appreciation

to live happily ever after. The end.

I don’t think so.

We can’t just leave this story for pearls. Let’s apply it toour lives too. After all, don’t our biggest challenges and”irritants” develop our greatest strengths and bring innerbeauty to light?

Pearls in HistoryWith so many pearls available today, it’s hard for us tounderstand the rarity of natural pearls, particularly those ofany size. They are so rare that for millennia they were themost coveted gems. To have one was to possess beauty ofincomparable value. Only royalty and other wealthy individualshad any hope of ever owning pearls.

The Hope PearlThe most famous natural saltwater pearl weighs 1,800 grains —450 carats — or 4-ounces. It once belonged to the owner of theHope Diamond. Currently, it is in the British Museum ofNatural History.

La PeregrinaThis one is a perfectly pear-shaped pearl weighing 223.8grains (55.95 carats). Its famous owners included PrincePhillip II of Spain, Joseph Bonaparte — who stole it fromSpain, British Marquis of Abercorn, and finally in 1969,Elizabeth Taylor, gifted to her by Richard Burton.

The Mary Tudor PearlNow known as the Pearl of Kuwait, it is often confused with LaPeregrina. They are both pear-shaped. The Mary Tudor Pearlweighs 258.12 grains or 64.5 carats. It was owned by Isabella

of Portugal; her daughter Joanna of Austria; Joanna’s cousin,Phillip II of Spain; and Mary Tudor of England.

Read more about famous pearls throughout history here.

Alive With BeautyLiving organisms — bi-valve mollusks — create pearls. As such,they have a presence, a vitality that attracts the eye withmesmerizing beauty. Their luster emanates from within, givingthem a spiritual allure.

Some historians have proposed that pearls were first used andsought after for their spiritual powers and only secondarilyfor their value. Perhaps they were, but frankly, I find thathard to believe. When something combines rarity with beauty,it’s valuable no matter what the use.

Pearl PowerBoth ancient India and China gave rise to astounding pearlmyths of their origins and powers. Vedic texts relate thatpearls were born of Earth’s water and Heaven’s powers, each

fertilized by a lightning strike. Pearls were considered“daughters of the Moon,” reflecting her luster.

In today’s youth-oriented culture, we would all do well to buy

pearls and lots of them. In 17th and 18th century BCE, theBabylonians believed that pearls had life-giving qualitiesincluding the ability to restore youth.

To Look Their BestWhat do pearls have to do to stay beautiful? They need to beworn often. If stored in a hot, airless environment, they candry and crack. Pearls need oil from the skin to enhance theirluster and color and after each wearing, they should be wipedwith a damp cloth to remove hairspray or other damagingchemicals.

Still can’t get enough pearls? Check out our Pearl Center onStuller.com for detailed info on everything you wanted to knowabout pearls. And don’t forget to share these stories withyour customers. The more storytelling you can share with them,the better!