Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Pearl is the Birthstone for June Birthdays

The word Pearl comes from the Latin word "pirum" (it means "pear" or the shape).  Pearls have are found inside the shell of an oyster, clam or mussel.




How are Pearls Made?
Cultured pearls are produced when man has introduced an irritant into the oyster or mussel and these are then harvested from their saltwater or freshwater environments. 



  • Pearls are formed because of a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle
  • Natural Pearls are either saltwater found in gulfs, bays, seas and oceans or freshwater found in rivers and lakes
  • Kokichi Mikimoto was the Japanese man credited as the creator of the cultured pearl
  • Natural Pearls are found in the waters of these countries: Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Mannar, the South Pacific, the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast of Mexico, Europe, Japan and Australia
  • Pearls come in a wide range of natural colors and shades. The type of oyster or mussel determines the color along with the geographical area

Colors: Natural (not dyed) colors are white, pink pearls, lilac, cream, grey, black and gold



  • Pink pearls are extremely popular
  • The Silver-lipped oyster is found in the South Sea around Australia which produces large white and silvery white South Sea pearls
  • Tahitian pearls range from black, light black/silvery and dark grey. The rare peacock green color is also referred to as a black pearl. The cheaper black pearls, especially freshwater, are usually dyed

  • Iridescence is the pearly lustre caused by the effect of colors which may be like those of the rainbow or a combination of colors such as pink, blue, green, and silver

  • Gold or golden pearls are the colors found in the South Sea

Types of Pearls:
  • South Sea pearls are famous for their gold colors

  • The Akoya Pearl is famous for their blue colors - from the Akoya oyster and are cultured seawater pearls produced in China and Japan. The Japanese Akoya pearl (cultured) have brilliant lustre and a higher quality than Chinese Akoya pearl
  • Persian Gulf Pearls, Oriental, are some of the finest natural pearls
  • Tahitian pearls are famous for their natural black colors
  • Mabe pearls are grown in Japan, Indonesia and Australia. Mabe pearls are cultured pearls grown against the inside shell of an oyster rather than within the oyster’s body producing a flat back pearl which are often used in earrings
  • The Mikimoto pearl are a leading brand. The company was founded by Kokichi Mikimoto who was the Japanese man credited as the creator of cultured pearls
  • Lake Biwa Pearls are freshwater pearls grown in Japan




Compiled by Linda Blatchford, Jewelry Designer 

49 comments:

  1. Wow ... so many pretties! I love pearls and really enjoyed your article, Linda :-)

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    1. Thanks, there's so much information available. I love it.

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  2. Love, love, love the pearls!
    Great post, Linda!

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  3. This post is enough to make me wish I'd been born in June! Wonderful article.

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    1. My wedding anniversary is in June, does that count?

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  4. Nice Job Linda. I love pearls.

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  5. That Is so much great information about pearls - I learned tons. Thanks for taking the time for this post!

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  6. Very interesting facts about where pearls are from and how they come to be! thanks you for the info. And thanks for featuring my bracelet! woot woot!

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  7. Pearls are beautiful, thank you for this lovely article as always Linda

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  8. I love love love pearls! So elegant and classy! Thank you for featuring my pearl earrings :)

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    1. Me too. Your earrings are so pretty, Janet.

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  9. My favorite earrings in the world are a pair of black pearl earrings that were my great-grandmother's. Thank you for the information about this fabulous jewel!

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    1. You'll have to show us those earrings, Dell.

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  10. So many different types of pearls! Love them all. I remember when I was a kid that my mother once found one in her oyster. That only happened once in 40 years at our beach house! Very much enjoyed reading and learned a lot!

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  11. Great info and love the pearls!

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  12. That was great info about pearls, and very well put together.

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  13. There is something about the luster of pearls. Great info!

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  14. Pearls never get boring..They are so many different types of them..love love love them :) great Article Linda !

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  15. What a great, informative post! Thank you!

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    1. Rachel, it's always a pleasure to do these.

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  16. Wow what a lovely pearl finds!!

    Thank you for the article and for featuring my necklace here too.

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  17. Amazing facts about pearls and what Beautiful creations. Sue (SunnyCrystals)

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  18. So beautiful finds! They are also awesome as summer jewelry!

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  19. Wonderful information! Pearls are the classic, wear-anytime, stone.

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  20. I am a June baby and I love pearls. Such great finds in here, especially the awesome peach rose pearl necklace!

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  21. Gotta love the classic look of pearls! Great info on the history of pearls, and gorgeous pearl finds!

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  22. Wow, such great info on pearls. Very helpful! Thanks for including my necklace.

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  23. Love all these pearls, informative article. Pearls are so classic!

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  24. Very interesting. I just love pearls.

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  25. Fabulous post! Thanks for sharing!

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  26. I have come to love pearls in my "old" age :) Such interesting facts!!! Thanks again Linda.

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