The Queen of Gems

An unknown author once wrote, “The pearl is the queen of gems and the gem of queens”.

Women have enjoyed pearls for centuries around the world. In America, the Native Americans were the first to collect and use freshwater pearls from the Mississippi River Basin. Interestingly, both males and females wore pearls as decoration. Many Native American tribes prized pearls. It is said that Pocahontas’ father amassed a large collection of pearls over his lifetime.

Women continue to wear and enjoy pearl jewelry today. With the introduction of cultured pearls, they have become more available and affordable. Cultured pearls are still considered real pearls as they are grown organically inside an oyster with the help of man to get the process started. Natural pearls are often found in estate sales where they are a part of an older jewelry collection. Because their formation is left to chance, they are more rare and more expensive. In 2007, a double strand of 68 perfect natural pearls was auctioned at Christie’s for $7 million.

Thank goodness for the introduction of the cultured pearl so the rest of us can enjoy our own strand of “perfect” pearls.

Lynn