Birthstone Month: June

Meaning: Cultured or freshwater pearls are considered to offer the power of love, money, protection and luck. Pearls are thought to give wisdom through experience, to quicken the laws of karma and to cement engagements and love relationships.

What are Pearls?

An organic gem, pearls are formed inside molluscs such as oysters and mussels. They are formed when an irritant such as a tiny stone or bit of sand gets inside the mollusc's shell. A lustrous substance, called nacre, is secreted around the object to protect the soft internal surface of the mollusc. As layer upon layer of nacre coats the irritant, a pearl is formed. Light that is reflected from these overlapping layers produces a characteristic iridescent lustre. 

There are many types of pearls:

What are Freshwater Pearls?

Our chosen pearl, the cultured freshwater pearl, gives the same look of beautiful marine pearls without the heavy price tag or interfering with the sea bed.

Freshwater pearls are produced by mussels. As their name indicates, these pearls are found in rivers and lakes rather than the ocean. Unlike the oyster, the mussel can produce many different pearls at once while maintaining the same lustre and vitality as marine pearls. These pearls come in various shapes and sizes and take up to two years to form. 

Pearls vary in colour from white to those with a hint of colour, often pink, to brown or black. Each colouration will depend on the type of mollusc and the water where the mollusc lived.

How to care for Freshwater Pearls

Because the nacre is organic, pearls are very sensitive to extreme heat, acids, dryness,and humidity. We recommend storing your pearls in their own pouch or tissue, away from other jewellery. To clean your freshwater pearls, wipe them with a soft cotton cloth to remove surface oil and dirt. If using a silver polishing cloth to shine up your jewellery, ensure it is only used on the silver parts of your jewellery, do not use it on your freshwater pearls as the cloth contains an anti-tarnish cleaning substance that is not appropriate for pearls. For a deeper clean,wipe with a damp cotton cloth and leave to dry before storing. We do not recommend wearing freshwater pearls in the shower or swimming pool. Keep away from chemicals such as cosmetics, perfume and cleaning products