The Myth of the Pearl

Timeless elegance and classic sophistication!

Scarlett Johansson

I truly believe that of all the pieces of jewelry, a pearl necklace is the only thing that a woman should not be without.

Pearls are so versatile and so easy to match with any outfit, from formal evening wear to casual day wear. 

No one knows when pearls were first discovered but many believe it was long before recorded history. Long before written history, human beings most likely discovered the first pearl while searching the seashore for food.

According to Chinese folklore, pearls are the tears of a dragon. The Ancient Chinese considered natural black pearls as symbols of wisdom and thought them to be created in the brains of dragons. They believed that one had to kill the dragon to harvest the pearl, which was held safely between the dragon’s teeth.

The Greeks held the pearl in high esteem for both its unrivaled beauty and its association with love and marriage. Duringthe Dark Ages, while fair maidens of nobility cherished delicate pearl necklaces, gallant knights often wore pearls into battle. They believed the magic of these lustrous gems would protect them from harm. he ancient Greeks also believed pearls should be a part of the wedding ceremony. They thought pearls would bring love and all guests of the wedding were adorned in pearls. Pearls were sacred wedding gems given as gifts and the word “pearl” became highly associated with “love.”

In Roman mythology, they are the tears of Venus. It is said that the water that dropped from Venus’ body was so affected by her beauty and appeal that it ultimately formed into pearls, and that is where the pearl gains its lofty and holy status.

Pearls have often been called "The Fairies of Water" as they are the soul of beauty and love. The Myth from Persia believes that pearls are the result of different spirits’ tears. Interesting, you might say - but there are lots of myths when it comes to pearls. From the old times until today, pearls are deemed to be a gift to the earth by various spirits. Persians believed that pearls were born when a rainbow met the Earth, and any irregularities in the pearls were thought to be a consequence of thunder.

In Ancient India, people believed that pearls were made from the dew of the sun’s first rays in the morning.

The ancient Egyptians prized their pearls so much they were buried with them. Cleopatra reportedly dissolved a single pearl in a glass of wine and drank it. She did this simply to win a wager with Mark Anthony that she could consume the wealth of an entire nation in just one meal.

In Hindu culture, pearls were associated with the Moon and were symbols of love and purity. Hindu texts say that Krishna discovered the first pearl, which he presented to his daughter on her wedding day.  Ancient Hindu writings refer to pearls as bringing longevity and prosperity. The writings also tell an ancient story of Krishna (or Vishnu) who plucked the first pearl from the depths of the ocean and gave it to his daughter Pandaia on her wedding day. This Hindu story is one of the earliest known accounts of pearls in the wedding experience. Hindus also associated pearls with wild boars, elephants, snakes, fish and only very rarely with oysters. For Hindus, the pearl is one of the planetary gems, associated with the moon and second only to the diamond in regard. The Indian rulers considered the luminous gemstones to be symbols of love, union, and purity.

Islamic tradition holds pearls in even higher regard. The Koran speaks of pearls as one of the great rewards found in Paradise, and the gem itself has become a symbol of perfection.

Christianity also adopted the pearl as a symbol of purity. Many of these ideas have come down to us in pearl lore and legend, and persist even today. For example, pearls are often associated with brides and weddings -- a concept possibly dating all the way back to Krishna and the wedding of his daughter. Pearls are also said to symbolize tears, to provide love and fertility, to symbolize purity, and to ward off evil.