Since ancient times, the pearl has enchanted humanity with its mysterious origin and spontaneous beauty. Pliny the Elder, in his treatise Naturalis Historia, described it as “the gem among gems,” highlighting its uniqueness: it is the only gem generated by a living being and the only one born perfect, ready to be worn without any processing.
Its formation process occurs inside marine mollusks such as oysters and mussels, when a foreign body enters the shell. The organism, in order to protect itself, surrounds it with thin layers of nacre, a substance made of aragonite and conchiolin. This process can take from a few months to several years. The determining factors for a pearl's value include its roundness, the intensity of its luster (known as orient), color, and nacre thickness.
Natural pearls, which are extremely rare today, were considered in antiquity the ultimate symbol of power and luxury. According to legend, Cleopatra dissolved a pearl in vinegar to demonstrate Egypt’s wealth. From Imperial Rome to the Renaissance, and up to the haute joaillerie of the 20th century, pearls have crossed the centuries as an icon of timeless elegance.
Beyond their aesthetic value, pearls have been attributed with deep symbolic meanings: in the East, they represent wisdom and spiritual protection; in the West, they are a symbol of purity and eternal love.
Pearls are divided into two main families: natural and cultured. Natural pearls form spontaneously, without any human intervention. Cultured pearls, on the other hand, are created through a controlled process in which a small nucleus is inserted into the mollusk to stimulate production. Among these, the most well-known are Akoya pearls, produced in Japan and China, appreciated for their perfect roundness and delicate white-pink luster. South Sea pearls, from Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, are among the largest and most valuable, with shades ranging from white to golden. On the other side of the world, in French Polynesia, Tahitian pearls are cultivated, famous for their dark, iridescent colors, from grey to peacock green. Finally, freshwater pearls are often irregular in shape and available in a wide range of colors, perfect for contemporary creations.
Today, the pearl continues to exert its timeless charm. Appreciated by collectors, designers, and connoisseurs, it remains the only organic gem considered precious — a masterpiece of nature that blends science, art, and legend. As Pliny wrote, no other gem can boast such a miraculous origin nor such a deep connection to natural perfection.
PUBBLICAZIONE
19/06/2025
Supplied by Assogemme
