Pearls have often been called "The Fairies of Water" as they are the soul of beauty and love. The Myth from Persia believes that pearls are the result of different spirits’ tears. Interesting, you might say - but there are lots of myths when it comes to pearls. From the old times until today, pearls are deemed to be a gift to the earth by various spirits. In Ancient India, people believed that pearls were made from the dew of the sun’s first rays in the morning.

People in Roman times believed that the origins of pearls are connected with Venus. It is said that the water that dropped from Venus’ body was so affected by her beauty and appeal that it ultimately formed into pearls, and that is where the pearl gains its lofty and holy status.

Pearls are regarded by some as the symbol of power, perfection, luck, hope, happiness, honor, and for many, are praised as the “Queen of Gems.” Their value even exceeds that of diamonds.


No one knows when pearls were first discovered but many believe it was long before recorded history. Pearls are unlike any other precious gemstone because they need no enhancement such as cutting or polishing to help one admire their captivating beauty. Pearls truly were the first prized gems because of their beauty and rarity. Pearls were also one of the most sought after gems as noted in ancient records.


Pearls were highly revered by Romans, rulers of Ancient India, the Chinese, etc. Pearls have been attributed with having great powers and have been incorporated into the mythology of virtually every culture that has encountered them. Countless references to the pearl can be found in the religions and mythology of cultures from the earliest times. The ancient Egyptians prized their pearls so much they were buried with them. Cleopatra reportedly dissolved a single pearl in a glass of wine and drank it. She did this simply to win a wager with Mark Anthony that she could consume the wealth of an entire nation in just one meal.


The Ancient Chinese considered natural black pearls as symbols of wisdom and thought them to be created in the brains of dragons. They believed that one had to kill the dragon to harvest the pearl, which was held safely between the dragon’s teeth. In ancient Rome, pearls were considered the ultimate symbol of wealth and social standing. The Greeks held the pearl in high esteem for both its unrivaled beauty and its association with love and marriage. During the Dark Ages, while fair maidens of nobility cherished delicate pearl necklaces, gallant knights often wore pearls into battle. They believed the magic of these lustrous gems would protect them from harm.


The ancient Greeks also believed pearls should be a part of the wedding ceremony. They thought pearls would bring love and all guests of the wedding were adorned in pearls. Pearls were sacred wedding gems given as gifts and the word “pearl” became highly associated with “love.” The Greeks and Romans also believed that pearls were formed when raindrops or dewdrops accidentally fell into an oyster. The Hindus, who spent a lot of time pondering where pearls came from, were convinced they formed in the brain and stomach of elephants. Hindu folklore speaks of pearls as dewdrops that fell out of the night and into the sea. Ancient Hindu writings refer to pearls as bringing longevity and prosperity. The writings also tell an ancient story of Krishna (or Vishnu) who plucked the first pearl from the depths of the ocean and gave it to his daughter Pandaia on her wedding day.


This Hindu story is one of the earliest known accounts of pearls in the wedding experience. Hindus also associated pearls with wild boars, elephants, snakes, fish and only very rarely with oysters. For Hindus, the pearl is one of the planetary gems, associated with the moon and second only to the diamond in regard. The Indian rulers considered the luminous gemstones to be symbols of love, union, and purity.


The Japanese believed that pearls are the tears of mythical characters such as mermaids, nymphs and angels. Also, pearls were often featured in stories of pain and suffering.
Persians believed that pearls were born when a rainbow met the Earth, and any irregularities in the pearls were thought to be a consequence of thunder.


An ancient legend from Ceylon speaks of Adam and Eve whose many shed tears created a lake of pearls. The white pearls were believed to be from Eve’s tears and the black from Adam. It is further believed that because man is better able to control his emotions and thus shed fewer tears this explains the rarity of black pearls.


Pearls are also referenced in religious writings. They are associated with high value and reverence in early Christian writings of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Pearls are also found in Jewish literature where the gems are used as metaphors to compare things of very high regard.
Islamic tradition holds pearls in even higher esteem. In Islamic thought, pearls represent perfection and completeness. By the Middle Ages, pearls had become included among the most sacred of precious objects due to their identification with religious purity in Christianity. Early Christians described the Holy Grail as being embellished with pearls to give the holy water magical powers. They adorned bibles, icons, and religious artifacts. These artifacts were frequently put on display during major religious holidays and Christianity also adopted the pearl as a symbol of purity.


The Koran speaks of pearls as one of the great rewards found in Paradise, and the gem itself has become a symbol of perfection.


Many of the ideas that have long been known as pearl legends, still persist even today. For example, pearls are often associated with brides and weddings -- a concept possibly dating back to Krishna and the wedding of his daughter. Pearls are also said to symbolize tears and purity, to provide love and fertility, and to ward off evil.


In addition, the colors of pearls also have their symbolic meaning: Colored pearls have their own
lore. Here are some of the mythical benefits of owning a colored pearl.


A blue shade means you’ll find love. Black or gold is for wealth; you’ll learn to know yourself and become prosperous. Gold tone means you’ll become wealthy. Pink tints are associated with success; you’ll earn fame and good fortune.


Long before written history, human beings most likely discovered the first pearl while searching the seashore for food. Throughout history, the pearl, with its warm inner glow and shimmering iridescence has been one of the most highly prized and sought-after gems. No natural wonder of the world has been given the same mysterious beauty of that of a pearl. One could argue that pearls might indeed be a gift from the gods.

Class, style, timeless, sophistication, intelligence, these are a few words to describe pearls and the women who wear them. With so many actresses and other famous women of modern times sporting bigger and more lustrous pearls, pearls have made a big comeback. It doesn’t look like they’re going to fade away anytime soon. Things have changed, as today it’s not just the size of the pearl that makes a statement, so much as it is a combination of the pearls themselves along with the celebrities who are wearing them. Yes, pearls are certainly enjoying resurgence!

Celebrities and other famous women influence much of the look and style in today’s fashion world, while also setting trends. Yesterday’s style masters, Jackie O and Princess Diana, come to mind as both projected a glamorous elegance that so many women have strived to emulate. Who could forget Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s? These women dressed with flair and accessorized with style; everyone wanted to be just like them. As a homage to Old Hollywood glamour, here’s a look at pearl jewelry made famous by some of our most beloved ladies.

1. One of the earliest known pearl collections is the Mary Queen of Scots pearls. The most famous piece within this collection was a six-strand necklace strung as a rosary and consisting of more than 600 pearls. Queen Elizabeth I of England was a collector and lover of these pearls.

2. A legend known for her diamonds, not surprisingly, also loves pearls. Actress Elizabeth Taylor owns one of the world’s most famous pearls, the La Peregrina pearl, which was given to her in 1969 by, then-husband, Richard Burton. This very large, pear-shaped white pearl was found by a slave in the early 1500s in the Gulf of Panama. The magnificent gem was owned by a long line of royalty, starting with Mary Tudor, the daughter of King Henry VIII, before Burton purchased it at auction for Taylor. Interestingly, Taylor once misplaced the famous La Peregrina pearl in her white-carpeted home. After an extensive search, guess where the pearl was found? In her beloved dog’s mouth.

3. When talking about celebrity pearl jewelry, we must also mention actress Sarah Jessica Parker, now a popular clothing designer and modern day style icon who made layered oversize pearl necklaces chic. Today, simulated layers of pastel pearls are the rage. The layered necklace look is hot, especially freshwater pearls in complexion-flattering lavender-like iris. Gorgeous pink pearl jewelry is extremely popular too.

4. Believe it or not, pearls often show up in sports, like golf and tennis. In the golf movie, Tin Cup, actress Rene Russo wore a necklace now known as Tin Cup throughout the movie. Its look - white pearls evenly spaced on a fine chain, received almost as much attention as the actual romantic comedy itself! This piece started a trend and today, several stunning variations of this simple Tin Cup necklace can be found in jewelry stores worldwide. Surely you’ve seen the twin sweater set and a simple strand of pearls? With a pair of long walking shorts or culottes, that’s what you’ll see quite often at golf course clubhouses.

5. You might be interested to know that Jackie O's famous and much-photographed triple strand pearl choker is simulated. The gorgeous pearl choker she's known for features round white pearls on strands of graduated lengths, and typified Jackie's signature, simple yet elegant, style. This piece became extremely popular after Jackie was photographed with son, John-John, sitting on her lap while he played with her pearls. In 1996, the simulated pearls went to auction where they were expected to sell for somewhere between $500-$700. They were purchased by The Franklin Mint for $211,500! It’s not hard to figure out why they sold so high.

6.Princess Diana, another beloved lady of style, wealth, and class who will never be forgotten for this very reason. Diana's most famous pearl piece is probably her dangling pearl and diamond tiara. This exquisite piece of jewelry was given to the princess by her mother-in-law, the Queen of England. Copies of the pearl tiara are now worn by many brides on their wedding day.

You can be a star!

So, here’s a little insight on how you can be a fashion standout. There is an endless supply of imitation pearls and costume jewelry pearls on the market. Playing around with them won’t cost you a fortune, can be very fun, and might even inspire you to be a fashion trend-setter. Why not mix various lengths or sizes of pearls together or entwine a silver or gold chain? How about mixing your real pearls with your imitation pearls? Remember, when a new season hits, update your wardrobe with the latest pearls!

Pearls are available in many hues. You can get several colors, lengths and styles and wear them with your little black dress for many attracted looks. This season the popular color is lavender. The lavender family is various in shades from pale iris to plum. Have you seen pearl rings in the magazines? From small, understated rings to oversized ones, pearl rings are hot!

Achieving the layered look like Sarah Jessica Parker, is very easy - simply, pair a waist-length gold or silver chain (or maybe a couple) with a shorter strand of freshwater pearls, and then add a pearl choker or oversized beaded choker. This look is good for both dressing up and dressing down as with t-shirts and jeans. You can take them from daytime at the office to night time for some fun on the town.

Little can compete with a beautiful pearl necklace around your neckline, or those gleaming pearl earrings set gracefully upon your ear. Pearl necklaces are great for all occasions including holiday gifts, weddings, parties, and prom. When it comes to jewelry, today's stars like Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman love to pair luxurious pearl necklaces and earrings with their evening gowns when they are walking the red carpet.

As a result, you can see that pearls will never go out of style. They are always a classy and a traditional wardrobe accessory that will never disappoint. You would not be wrong in saying that pearls are forever.