Mysterious iridescent Pearl - what are the types, how they are mined, properties and photos of the mineral
At all times natural pearls were valued. It was used as an ornament, a monetary unit or an investment. The mysterious iridescent stone, born of nature, attracted from ordinary people to connoisseurs of jewelry. Pearls are considered the most ancient jewelry.
History of mother-of-pearl stone
From the moment a grain of sand or other foreign object enters the shell, an amazing process of pearl formation begins. The mollusk gradually envelops a particle with many layers of mother-of-pearl, creating an amazing work of art. This is a unique gem that does not require processing, but can be immediately used for jewelry. It is believed that for the first time pearls were accidentally found by fishermen when they were fishing for shellfish near the island of Ceylon.
Most of all, this stone had admirers in the East. Pearls were used to decorate the statues of the gods, they were awarded for great victories. In ancient Rome, the stone was associated with the goddess Venus. In the paintings of artists such as Sandro Botticelli, the goddess Venus stands in the shell of a shell, which is also associated with pearls.
Queen Cleopatra herself highly valued this jewel and her favorite jewelry was pearl earrings. The stone has been shrouded in myths and prejudices throughout its history.So some associate pearls with purity, purity and a happy marriage, good luck and financial well-being, while others associate the jewel with mourning for loved ones. In ancient times, people believed that pearls are the frozen light of the moon in the water or lightning that hit the shell.
pearl mining
Today there are two types of pearl mining. The cultivated way is most commonly found off the coast of Japan. The essence of the process is simple. The oyster is carefully opened and a foreign body is planted inside. Further, the process depends entirely on natural processes, although it is controlled by man, and takes about 3 years. It is believed that the history of cultivation of pearls was laid at the end of the 19th century. Kokichi Mikimoto was the first to grow a pearl himself, and later he managed to obtain a patent for the cultivation of round pearls. His technologies and tools are still used today.
Natural pearls are valued very highly due to the fact that cultured pearls are widely distributed and are replacing “wild” pearls from the market due to the difficulty of their extraction. Cultured pearls are not fake, but due to the easier and more controlled method of extraction, they are more affordable.
Natural pearls are used by the most eminent jewelers, and especially valuable specimens are exhibited at large auctions on a par with the rarest diamonds. In ordinary jewelry stores, the buyer is offered cultured pearls. Natural pearls are mined today in Japan, the Persian Gulf. The extraction of freshwater pearls is concentrated in Russia, China, Germany, North America.
The most expensive and famous pearls were mined near Polynesia and the Persian Gulf. In these places, there is a constant hunt for valuable specimens.Since ancient times, pearls in these places were mined by divers by hand. For a long time, equipment and equipment remained unchanged. The diver had a wicker basket for shells, nose clips. With the help of two ropes, the descent and ascent took a few seconds. One was weighted with a stone or other load tied to the leg, she pulled the diver down. The second was attached to the belt.
pearl properties
Pearls are formed in both marine and freshwater mollusks. When a foreign object enters the sink, a protective mechanism is triggered. The object in contact with the mantle of the mollusk is enveloped and covered with a coating similar to a shell. Up to a dozen pearls can form in one shell.
But in such shells stones of small sizes are formed. The more pearls in the shell, the smaller they are, respectively. In addition to size, it is important to remember that only mother-of-pearl-coated pearls are valued. In terms of shape, pearls don't fit the usual rules. There are instances of both an ideal symmetrical proportion, and the most bizarre and unusual. This is directly affected by the location of the pearl in the mollusk shell.
If you disassemble the chemical composition, then pearls are a symbiosis of organic and inorganic substances. Calcium carbonate is coated with conchiolin, in simple terms, this is a pink substance that the mollusk produces. Under a microscope, you can see many layers and the result of the hard work of a mollusk. But despite the complex and long process of creation, pearls are not a durable stone. The stone can be easily drilled and scratched, while, of course, it cannot be ground, so as not to erase the valuable layer of mother-of-pearl.
It is believed that pearls can enhance the positive features of the fair sex.Women who wear jewelry with pearls become more feminine, soft, motherly wise. Men also adopt such feminine qualities as flexibility and plasticity. These qualities will be useful in politics and in business, in negotiations.
Natural pearls contain a number of important trace elements that are widely used for medical purposes. Water is insisted on the stone or ground into powder for oral administration. The stone is able to diagnose a number of problems and help in their treatment. When the acidity of the upper layers of the skin changes in the body, the stone changes its shade. This is a signal about the course of disease processes in the body. If the pearl darkens, loses its luster or becomes cloudy, this is a sign of tumor inflammation. This tells the owner to see a doctor.
In addition, the stone can remove excess fluid from the body, improve the digestive tract. For those with stomach, kidney, liver, and acid problems, the stone can provide medical relief. But the most widespread medicinal properties received in the production of cosmetics for the face and hair.
Contraindications
It is important to know that the stone has not only positive properties. Pearls are not recommended for people with difficulty concentrating, weak-willed, prone to depression and unstable psyche.
Do not wear pearl jewelry that others have worn. The stone absorbs the energy of its owner and can transfer it to another, including problems.
Be wary of inherited jewelry and definitely avoid purchasing jewelry from a pawnshop.
Types of pearls
pearl colors amaze the imagination with their diversity: black, pink, white, gold, blue.Palette natural pearls depends on the type of pearl mollusks, the composition of the water and the location.
The most valuable is sea pearls. Color directly affects the assessment of the quality and cost of the stone.
White pearls, rich blue and black are especially highly valued because of their rarity. In the jewelry field, the stone is classified by size, brilliance, mother-of-pearl layer and shape. The purer the color and the more correct the shape, the higher pearl price. Pear-shaped shapes have fewer fans in the gemstone market.
Pearl care and wearing rules
It is believed that young girls should wear discreet jewelry or just a string of pearls. Older ladies are allowed to wear larger jewelry. The size of the stone is selected in direct proportion to the age of the woman. It should also be remembered that pearl jewelry should not be combined with other precious stones and wear this type of jewelry during the day. Pearls look best in combination with evening dresses.
When choosing the color of pearls, you need to pay attention to the skin tone. Girls with a dark skin tone are better suited with a golden hue, and fair-skinned girls with a pink one.
Since pearls are not durable, they need special care. It is necessary to protect the stone from direct sunlight and store it in a closed box.
At the end of the day, after wearing, the jewelry should be washed with water, without using any tools. It is possible to use tooth powder or soda, but in no case strong chemicals. After cleaning, the jewelry must be polished with a soft cloth and dried at room temperature.
In order to restore the lost luster to the jewelry, you can rub the pearls with extra virgin olive oil.A few drops are applied to a cotton pad, rubbed into the stone and then the excess is removed with a dry cloth.
Photo of natural pearls
