Fabulous rubies, brilliant diamonds, huge emeralds, and other gems bring to mind images of beauty and great riches. Gemstones have long fascinated the human population. They have inspired myths, curses, and have even been used as medicine. All the gemstones we so greatly treasure and admire come from various depths and locations in the earth’s crust.
Though classified as a gemstone, pearls are extremely unique, largely due to the fact that they are the only gem material formed and found within a living creature.
Pearls were presented as gifts to Chinese royalty as early as 2300 BC, while in ancient Rome, pearl jewelry was considered the ultimate status symbol. So precious were the spherical gems that in the 1st century BC, Julius Caesar passed a law limiting the wearing of pearls only to the ruling classes.
According to history and the myths, pearls are symbolic of wisdom gained through experience. The gems are believed to offer protection, as well as attract good luck and wealth. It is also said that these little gemstones are symbolic of the wearer’s loyalty, generosity, integrity, and purity.
ISLANDGEMS offers a vast array of cultured pearls and gemstone necklaces, earrings and other items made of natural stone.
