With the rising temperatures, we inch closer and closer to summer. The water is getting warmer, our hair lighter, and our drinks are even more refreshing. With so much to look forward to the next couple of months, June is our sneak peek into summer and we’re definitely ready to dive in! Just like we want to spend our time in the water, the June birthstone, pearl, is made under water. Unique and beautiful, just like those with June birthdays, this jewel has always been a crowd favorite.
JUNE BIRTHSTONE:
PEARL
Pearls are the only jewels that are created by living creatures. A valuable, natural pearl is found in less than 1 of every 10,000 oysters! Freshwater pearls account for 95% of the world’s pearls, but are less valuable than saltwater pearls. They are created within the soft tissue of a shelled mollusk and each pearl is different based on the type of oyster that produced it. They are beautiful and unique, like those born during the month of June!
-Aside from freshwater pearls, there are three major types of saltwater cultured pearls: Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea.
-The earliest record we have of pearls as precious objects are artifacts from Mesopotamia dated to around 2300 B.C.
-95% of pearls that are harvested today are cultured or cultivated pearls, meaning mollusks are artificially implanted with small seeds and tended to on a farm.
-Just like a snowflake, no two pearls are the same.
-Pearls symbolize fertility, loyalty, and friendship.