Pearls are produced by pearl oysters when an irritant is introduced into an oyster’s body. It begins coating that irritant, whether it is a grain of sand or a bead placed there by a pearl farmer, with layers upon layers of calcium carbonate until the irritant, now a pearl, is removed by nature or man. Ninety percent of today’s pearls are cultured by the insertion of shell beads into a living oyster for three to four years of coating. This is hard on the oysters and many die. Many ecology groups now boycott pearls in the same way others boycott the use of fur. Though many may hope to find a pearl in an oyster dinner, the fact is that pearl oysters are not edible. Edible oysters do not produce pearls. The most that might be found are small chips which resemble bits of porcelain. Fresh water pearls are produced by river mussels.
Pearls may be white, black, shades of gray and blue, pinkish-white, and cream. In modern pearl production, off-color pearls are often artificially colored to improve their appearance. They may be died a rich black with a solution of silver nitrate in dilute ammonia, and pink pearls are produced by the application of an eosin solution. Insufficiently white pearls are bleached before being sold.
Pearl fishers of Southeastern Asia believe a pearl kept with rice in a bottle stoppered by a dead man’s finger would “give birth” to more pearls. Credible imitation pearls were created in the 17th century by coating the interior of a glass bead with essence d’orient (a fix scale mixture) and filling it with wax. Cheaper imitations simply painted the outside. A disadvantage of real pearls lies in the fact that they “die” within a century and half. The organic conchiolin decays, turning them black. Also do not immerse them in soaps and other harsh cleansers.
Pearls are sacred to the Great Goddess in the aspect of Aphrodite Marina. To the Syrians, she was known as the Lady of Pearls. As a symbol of femininity, Hindu brides traditionally wore pearls. According to them, pearls were created by Vishnu and used by Krishna, one of his incarnations, to adorn his daughter at her wedding. Some Europeans claimed the jewels were unlucky to bride, signifying tears later in life however.
The connection of the pearl to the moon should be obvious, and fifteenth century mystics claimed pearl oysters regularly migrated to the surface to form their gems through a synthesis of seawater and moonlight. Hindus believed that pearls, as symbols of the moon which controls the tides, was capable of protecting against catastrophic weather. In China, it was thought pearl drops fell from the sky to be swallowed by oysters. These were either the blood or semen of celestial cloud dragons. The Chinese felt the pearl was a symbol of “genius in obscurity.” They still grind up millions of seed pearls as medicine. European doctors also prescribed ground pearls for weak eyes, poor nerves, consumption, and old age. In the 18th century, powdered pearls drunk with milk was said to heal “putrid ulcers” and with honey, they would cure pestilential fevers (plague).
An old story has it that Cleopatra dissolved a pearl in either wine or vinegar to obtain its beauty for herself and drank it down. This is unlikely however as anything capable of dissolving a pearl would also have dissolved her digestive tract. Paracelsus prescribed pearls dissolved in vinegar or wine as an antacid and to cure ulcers. It is likely that both ground the pearls first. As a source of calcium, ground pearl might help in this capacity, but a Tums or Rolaids would be much cheaper.
Pearls have been a symbol of purity from time immemorial. The ability to purify may be amplified by the addition of a diamond. Combined with an emerald, a pearl may be used to draw out and disperse negativity. It may be used to enhance faith, charity, innocence, and personal integrity, but they are extremely sensitive to emotion and energy and can be used up, lowering their life expectancy. As a “stone of sincerity,” it may bring truth to situations and loyalty to a cause. It has been used to reduce unruly behavior and inspire self-reflection. A pearl may be given to a child to help it grow in beauty.
Pearls are very much in tune with pregnant women, farmers, artists, and chiropractors. They are soothing, lessening stress and headaches. Those prone to strokes and heart attacks may benefit from pearls.