Pearls: The June Birthstone

Jewellery lovers with a birthday in June are lucky enough to have pearls as their birthstone. The lustrous gems, hailing from the sea, have been revered for centuries. Their timeless, yet contemporary look shows no sign of waning. Here we explore the mystical world of pearls.

Pearls are the celebrated birthstone of June. The beautiful gems hold a certain mystique and they’re enchanting, with a magical allure. Their charm mainly comes from their incredible lustre that has an enviable radiance and shimmers like sunbeams on the sea. The iridescence of pearls is quick to draw admiration and a piece of pearl jewellery will always be seen as a gift of love in June.

However, long before they became associated with the beginning of the summer months the gems of the sea were celebrated by ancient cultures. The mysterious gems inspired many myths and legends throughout the world. In South Asian mythology they were believed to be dewdrops from heaven that fell into the sea. In Ancient India, warriors added them to their swords to symbolize tears and sorrow. Cleopatra is also famously rumoured to have dissolved a pearl in her wine to show that she could host the most lavish banquet and win the heart of Marc Antony.

This association with wealth was not limited to the Egyptians and they were favoured amongst the wealthy and ruling classes. The first piece of pearl jewellery is believed to date back to 420BC when it was discovered in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess. In 2300BC they were presented to Chinese royalty as gifts and in Ancient Rome Julius Caesar passed a law that limited the wear of pearls to the ruling class.

It isn’t just a rich history that pearls carry and they also hold certain powers. Said to promote health, longevity, purity, love and beauty they are known as the Queen of Gems. They also have a particular association with marriage. Due to their connection to innocence and purity in ancient times, they were used as bridal jewellery and Ancient Greeks believed that they promoted marital harmony. It was also said that Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, was closely connected to pearls as she was similarly born out of the sea.

Many brides today still opt for pearls on their wedding day, more because of their eternal beauty and gorgeous style than their connection to Venus though!

Pearls have always been celebrated as timeless gemstones and they’ve been favoured in the jewellery world for many years. They have a classic and elegant feel to them, with a simple grace that continues to look wonderfully chic. A beautiful piece of pearl jewellery will always be a treasured gift for anyone with a birthday falling in June.

SHOP PEARLS

Thank you for taking the time to read about the June birthstone, pearls. Follow our latest news on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest, or if you have any questions, please pop us an email at [email protected].