The Meaning of Pearl June Birthstone

What is the meaning of pearl June birthstone? This natural gem has a demure glow that has been described as pure. Fashion experts call it a jewellery essential. But what’s more, pearls boasts a juicy history full of legend, romance and powerful women.

 

The ultimate gem of feminine power

You’ve probably seen many famous women like Kate Middleton, Rihanna, Scarlett Johansson, Michelle Obama and The Queen flaunt pearls during formal occasions and red carpet events.

There is no doubt that pearls are the go-to gem for powerful women.

With exquisite white lustre, it creates a look that’s simple, elegant and very sexy.

Cleopatra’s Pearls

Two thousand years ago, pearls were considered the ultimate symbol of wealth.

You might remember from history class that Queen Cleopatra was the last, and the richest, of all the pharaohs to rule Egypt.

Only months before her downfall, Cleopatra became embroiled in a heated love affair with the handsome Marc Anthony, who had been sent by Caesar to submit her to Rome’s rule.

 

Cleopatra and Caesar (1866), a painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme via Wikipedia.com by Jean-Léon Gérôme

 

But Cleopatra was not an easy woman to conquer.

Despite sharing a bed with Marc Anthony, she sneered at his efforts to seduce her with Roman wealth.

Therefore, she decided to prove that Egypt didn’t need the riches of Rome.

Cleopatra made a bet with Marc Anthony. She claimed that she could serve him a dinner so expensive that Rome could never match the cost.

Marc Anthony laughed and agreed, but when dinner arrived, he was in for a shock.

Various pearls, image via Wikimedia.com by MASAYUKI KATO

 

 

Pale-faced, he watched as Cleopatra dissolved a magnificent, enormous pearl in her wine and drank it.

Pearls were, at this time, the most expensive gemstone anyone could own.

In the face of such wealth, Marc Anthony had no choice but to admit he’d lost the bet!

This famous story of Cleopatra and the pearl is still told today, thousands of years later.

It symbolises the powerful relationship that women share with pearls.

It’s no wonder that pearls are called ‘the queen of gems’.

Marilyn Monroe’s Mikimoto necklace

Let’s skip to almost two millennia later.

In the 19th Century, the pearl had become so sought after that the natural pearl beds of South American seas and the Pacific were almost depleted.

The greed of Spanish, French and British colonial rulers was to blame.

By Queen Victoria’s era, pearls had become so rare they were no longer affordable to ordinary people; only the rich were able to own them.

Monroe and DiMaggio when they were married in January 1954, Public Domain photo via Wikipedia.com

 

However, all this changed in 1907, when a Japanese man called Kokichi Mikimoto invented and patented the cultivated pearl – and Marilyn Monroe ended up wearing one of his creations.

Mikimoto’s method of creating cultivated pearls consisted of inserting a tiny pebble into an oyster.

This then went on to produce a beautiful pearl.

At first, Mikimoto’s cultivated pearls were shunned by the wealthy, who considered them cheap, poor imitations of the real thing.

 

That is, until Joe DiMaggio bought Marilyn Monroe a real Mikimoto necklace as a honeymoon gift when the newlywed couple Japan in 1954.

Instantly, cultivated pearls shot into the limelight.

As soon as Marilyn was photographed with Mikimoto’s necklace around her beautiful neck, it turned into the ultimate emblem of glamour, fashion and sex appeal – and then everybody wanted to own one.

Meaning of pearl June birthstone

To astrologists, the pearl represents the birthstone for June.

They also say that the gem is aligned with the zodiac sign of Gemini.

Since ancient times, people have believed that pearls bring love, luck, wisdom and peace.

Their white colour is associated with light and purity.

Therefore, the pearl birthstone stands for innocence and sincerity.

If you wear it as your birthstone, it is said to bless new life beginnings – like marriage, house moves and babies – with love and luck.

That is why the pearl is such a popular wedding accessory.

Curious pearl traditions around the world

Many wonderful cultural traditions have formed around the pearl:

◍ Ancient Romans believed that pearls could prevent young wives from crying.

◍ In some parts of India, an un-pierced pearl is traditionally presented as a wedding gift – and then drilled with a hole during the marriage ceremony.

◍ In Old China, pearls were said to protect their wearer’s from fire and dragons.

◍ In medieval Europe, their pure white shimmer was tied to religious beliefs, symbolising the chastity of the bride on her wedding day.

Best Pearl Jewellery Gifts

 

How Netflix made pearls trendy

If you’re in the 18-35 age group, then up until recently, wearing pearls might not have seemed as fashionable to you as it was to your grandmother when she was young.

However, the blockbusting Netflix series, The Crown, has changed this.

Claire Foy and Olivia Colman, the actors who play The Queen at different ages, are often seen on screen wearing pearls.

It has caused a huge boom in the pearl’s popularity:

Pearls are the perfect gift

From ancient history until today, people have wanted to own pearls.

The meaning of pearl, June’s birthstone

So if you’re thinking of adding something new to your jewellery collection or giving someone the perfect gift… pearls are the surefire choice.

View 10 Best Pearl Birthstone Gifts for June.

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