Pearls of the Past

Pearls are naturally occurring and thus have been used in cosmetics and jewelry for thousands of years. The oldest piece of pearl jewelry found to date was in the sarcophagus of a young Persian princess dating around 520 BC, and for much of their long history, pearls have been considered the most valuable of the gemstones. Yesterday and today, they are greatly admired for their flawless beauty.

Over time, pearls have been used in a variety of fashions. While the earliest use of pearls was as simple jewelry and adornment, new uses for pearls have been created. Beginning in the 13th and 14th century, pearls made a leap from basic jewelry to fashion accessory. Both men and women used pearls as decorations on their clothing, and the use of pearls in this manner was a blatant statement of wealth.

In the Americas, natives began harvesting pearls, and the uses spread further. Pearl pendants and earrings were worn by both genders, and pearls also became adornments on clothing. Pearls were additionally used as a form of tribute, or money, and the shells of mussels that produced the pearls were commonly used as armbands and gaming pieces.

The Distinction of Pearls

In ancient Rome, only individuals of a certain noble distinction were allowed to wear pearls, as the gemstones were considered almost magical in their beauty. The same was true during the Renaissance period. Today, pearls have a similar context, and are often symbols of class and distinction.

Pearls are still considered elegant and symbolic by societies around the globe. Pearls are often seen at weddings to symbolize purity and innocence. In fact, in the Hindu religion, piercing an unblemished pearl is part of the marriage ceremony. Debutantes and brides are adorned with simple strands of pearls, while other fashionably elegant women and men demonstrate discriminating taste by accessorizing with pearls.

Jacqueline Kennedy, the wife of President John F. Kennedy, was well known for her style and decorum. She often used pearls to accessorize, and the simple strand became one of her trademarks. Women around the globe began to imitate Jackie’s effortless taste and classic lines, including the understated use of pearls.

Almost thirty years later, another First Lady brought back the timeless elegance of the pearl, Barbara Bush. Mrs. Bush was almost never without her strand of pearls, and again, it became a symbol of her distinction and taste.

Pearl jewelry is classic in nature, and elegant in design. The use of pearl accessories bespeaks a certain merit of class and exquisite taste. To see a woman adorned in the perfection of pearls is to see the true radiance of her splendor.