Pearls, little
treasures from the water.
Gemme Couture, Gemmes
and the City Collection: Chocker with South Sea Pearl/ Tahiti Pearl on Diamond
Beads; Earrings with South Sea Pearls and Diamonds
June’s birth stone, Pearls, are quite possibly the most
versatile gem stone. With a beautiful array of colours, they possess the
ability to suit every age and skin colour.
It is a gem that can be stunning and hold its own as a
centerpiece of jewellery, or become subtle and give just a hint of demure
beauty. I personally love how pearls can be adapted to all styles and fashions.
They are preppy, bohemian, elegant, modern and of course, classic. Pearls are
identified with many cultures, from London’s socialites to the Middle East; Japan and
the Philippines, Indian royalty, American classic (Think Jackie Kennedy), the
Arabian Gulf which prides itself on its pearls and Tahitian exoticism.
Gemme Couture, especially feel an affinity with
Pearls, as they are, in a way, the national birth stone of Dubai, Gemme Couture's home.
Dubai started its business life as a Pearl port and trading post. The beautiful
and adored Pearl was an initial basis to Dubai’s economy, with a
rich history in trading understanding them and trading in them.
Due to the world’s
ardor of Pearls, natural wild Pearls are now very hard to find. Pearls
originate in both fresh and saltwater and are now cultured in both. Their
amazing formation and growth is so unique, beautiful and natural, continuously
making them such special gemstones through the ages.
Gemme Couture’s pearl
inspiration is Bridgitte Bardot
Boho pearls on our
Pearl style icon, Bridgitte Bardot x
Jackie Kennedy,
classic pearls
As well as their magical conception of growing inside mollusks/shells,
I think their beauty and uniqueness derives from the beautiful iridescent phenomenon
called Orient, which they all possess, that very pretty almost metallic effect
they demonstrate. Their extraordinary wide range of colour and mixed tones of
green and rose etc are also so magical.
Natural Pearls form in the bodies, or mantle tissue, of
certain mollusks/shells, usually around a microscopic irritant, for example a
grain of sand or tiny chip of shell, and always without human help of any kind.
The growth of cultured pearls requires human intervention and care. Today, most of the mollusks used in the culturing process are raised specifically for that purpose, although some wild mollusks are still collected and used.
The growth of cultured pearls requires human intervention and care. Today, most of the mollusks used in the culturing process are raised specifically for that purpose, although some wild mollusks are still collected and used.
Cultured pearls consist of:
Akoya – Japan and China both produce saltwater Akoya
cultured pearls. They come in a wide range of sizes, from 2mm to 11mm. In terms
of their color, they can be white, cream, cream with slight color overtones.
Tahitian – Cultivated primarily around the islands of French
Polynesia (the most familiar of these is Tahiti), these saltwater cultured
pearls usually range in size from 8mm – 14mm and come in a wide range of shapes
from spherical to unusual baroque. They
are famous for their silvery grey to black color but variations exist from
silver, cream, grey, black, brown, green, yellowish green, purple with green,
blue or rose overtones.
South Sea – Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines are
leading sources of these saltwater cultured pearls. Usually 10mm to 15mm in size,
usually spherical shapes but can also be semi- baroque, they come in a range of
colours from neutral and white, to orange, to purple, with all the array of
wonderful overtones.
Freshwater – These
are usually cultured in freshwater lakes and ponds. They’re produced in a wide
range of sizes, shapes, and colors. China and the US are the leading sources. A
wide range of sizes are available from 1mm to 13mm. They have a huge range of
shapes from spherical to heavily baroque. Color wise, they range from white to
grey and blue, but are often dyed and so have the widest range on the color
spectrum.
Taking their lead from
Brigitte Bardot and Jackie Kennedy, Gemme Couture work a lot with pearls and
have a beautiful collection.
Gemmes and the City Collection: Fresh
Water Pearl Necklace and Earrings set with Gold Flower Applications and
Diamonds
Pearls are said to
aid in inner vision and help improve self-worth. It is believed that the wearer
of Pearls is able to see the love of the person from whom the gift was given.
Once believed by some cultures to be the tears of God, the Pearl is sometimes
referred to as the "Queen Gem" (Diamond being the "King
Gem"). The Ancient Hindus included Pearls among the five precious gems in
the magical necklace of Vishnu. Traditionally, the Pearl is an emblem of
chastity and purity, symbolizing love, success and happiness. These gems were
once credited with possessing the ability to reproduce themselves. This quality
was attributed to every ninth Pearl, each of which would be placed in a bottle
with two grains of rice and left to breed. In very early medical treatments,
Pearls were crushed and taken internally in honey or wine to cure a variety of
ailments. They were also sometimes dissolved in acid and swallowed to honor a
famous personage...Cleopatra did this to honor Marc Antony and Sir Thomas
Gresham to honor Queen Elizabeth I of England. Pearls were considered a
powerful protective amulet and particularly treasured by divers and fishermen
who wore them as protection from the perils of the sea
Bardot Collection:
Necklace and Bracelet with South Sea Pearls and Gold Balls
Enjoy June with
Pearls, whatever your style, taste or age.
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