Today, pearls are the foundation of every woman’s jewelry wardrobe. Their very name conjures images of lustrous jewels nestled deep in oysters far below the surface of the sea.

1. Origin
Even before history was recorded, pearls were discovered in the depths of the sea when men set out in search for food. Assuming oysters for food, they got several up to land only to find a beautiful and perfectly round, white and shiny jewel which was given the name of Pearl today.

2. References in religion
Countless references to the pearl can be found in the religions and mythology of cultures from the earliest times. The ancient Egyptians prized pearls so much they were buried with them.
In ancient Rome, pearls were considered the ultimate symbol of wealth and social standing. The Greeks held the pearl in high esteem for both its unrivaled beauty and its association with love and marriage. The Renaissance saw the royal courts of Europe awash in pearls. Because pearls were so highly regarded, a number of European countries actually passed laws forbidding anyone but the nobility to wear them.

3. Pearls in America
During the European expansion into the New World, the discovery of pearls in Central American waters added to the wealth of Europe. Unfortunately, greed and lust for the sea-grown gems resulted in the depletion of virtually all the American pearl oyster populations by the 17th century. Until the early 1900’s, natural pearls were accessible only to the rich and famous.

4. Pearls today
In 1916, famed French jeweler Jacques Cartier bought his landmark store on New York’s famous Fifth Avenue — by trading two pearl necklaces for the valuable property.
Today, luckily for us, pearls are affordable to all. We also make cultured pearls by deliberately making them in oysters which has made them vastly available and easy to purchase.