June’s Birthstone is a Pearl. Pearls are one of the oldest known gemstones. Today Pearls are commercially cultured bring them into a price range that is affordable for everyone.
Pearl Legends
Pearls are perhaps the oldest known gemstones. Throughout most of the ancient world pearls were so rare and sought after that only royalty or the very wealthy could afford them. In ancient China it was believed that pearls were created in minds of dragons. In other parts of the orient pearls were believed to be the tears or angels or mermaids. The most famous legend about a pearl involved the Polynesian god Oro, who came down to earth on a rainbow to offer man the legendary black pearl. Pearls are June Birthstone
Pearl History
Pearls became commercially viably in 1893 when Mikimoto produced the first cultured pearl, by surgically inserting an irritant into an oyster. Most pearls are white, but they do come in red, green, and gray or black. Black pearls are indigenous only in the south pacific.
Pearl Information
Pearls are very sensitive and can be damaged by perfume or cosmetics, so they should be the last item put on. Pearls are also very soft with a 3 or 4 on Mohs Hardness Scale.
photo credit: Milica Sekulic
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