June Birthstone – Pearl

Pearls of Joy

The only precious jewel created by a living animal, the June birthstone is the delightful Pearl, one of the most adored gemstones there is. Developed naturally inside molluscs such as mussels and oysters, these beautiful gems are created when tiny bits of debris such as seaweed or tiny crabs become lodged inside the shiny shells of these creatures. As a way to defend itself, the mollusc will wrap these foreign objects in a coating of its shell, which sometimes results in the creation of shiny little pearls.

The different types of Pearl

As with most gemstones, the June birthstone can come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes based on how they are formed. The most common colour for a pearl is definitely white, but they can come in a range of colours depending on the shiny coloured shell of the creature in which they were created, such as blue, black, golden, pink…any colour you can imagine!

The characteristics of a pearl are also largely determined by the way they are formed, whether that’s naturally or “cultured”. Naturally formed pearls are exceptionally rare and are therefore very expensive, whereas pearls which have been created using some human interaction (i.e the purposeful introduction of an irritant to the mollusc) are more common. Although pearls which have been cultured or farmed are more common, each pearl is still wonderfully unique as there is no way of saying how the oyster or mussel will react and what type of pearl they will produce. In fact, only 5% of oysters or mussels which are harvested will create a pearl of very high quality. This means that each authentic pearl is exceptionally unique and incredibly special.

There are also differences between freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls, and as well as a variety of colours, pearls all come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

If you have any questions about any of the beautiful pearl jewellery pieces on our online store, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to provide you with more detailed explanations on their characteristics.

Why the June birthstone is very special?

For centuries pearls have had a rich history surrounded by myth, folklore and legend, predominantly because they come from the sea, and people have long been fascinated by how they are created and the qualities that they can bring to whoever should don them. Numerous legendary stories feature pearls, the stories of Aphrodite and Cleopatra to name but a few, and many ancient cultures believed that pearls could be used as fertility aids and treatments for heart conditions, lung diseases, insomnia, insanity and much more.

The pearl is also embedded in the traditions of many cultures. The ancient Greeks believed that pearls would bring marital success, and so the tradition of brides wearing pearls around their necks on their wedding day was created. While in China, pearls are often given as gifts to loved ones as they are said to bring luck and wealth.

Pearls are also a traditional gift for 1st, 3rd, 12th, and 30th wedding anniversaries!

So if you’re looking for the perfect wedding anniversary gift, something special for your wedding day, a lovely gift for someone whose birthday falls within the June birthstone, or simply something beautiful to compliment an outfit, why not take a look at our delightful collection of pearl jewellery.

Whether you love pearls for their history, their unique qualities, or just for their look, we’re sure our selection will impress.