Why pearls? It is the oldest known gem, and for centuries it was considered the most valuable, known in antiquity as “the gem of queens and the queen of gems.” The oldest known pearl known as “the Abu Dhabi Pearl,” was on display at the Louvre in 2019, as part of the exhibition 10,000 Years of Luxury. It had been found in the sarcophagus of a Persian Princess who died in 520 BCE. In an etymological sense, the Latin word “pearl” literally translates “unique," reinforcing the fact that no two pearls are exactly alike and no pearl is perfect.
The ancient Greeks believed that pearls were “the tears of the gods,”symbolizing the moon as well as representing water and exalted female beauty. Pearls were deemed to signify purity, charity, integrity, and spiritual transformation, since these “gems of the sea” preserved their color (white or off-white) despite coming from a crude shell and being dredged from the dirt, clay and mud. I have recently come through a very profound passage, and I felt as though my noble ancestors were standing behind me all the time, and so were my pearls, reminding me to walk with dignity and style. These precious companions are easily warding off undesirable glances, while being suited precisely to the honorable gaze. So, why not pearls?