The Pearl Research Paper

Pearls have always been a favorite of mines. When I was a little girl my grandmother had pearl necklaces hung on her wall, which were her grandmothers. I was so infatuated with them because how vintage they were and that’s when my obsession began. I also fell in love with them because all of the elderly women in my family always wore their best pearls on Sundays to church and they would bring the whole vision of their outfit together. My grandmother also gave me a pair of her grandmother fresh water pearls, but my brother broke the bracelet before I could wear them.

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Pearls are unique among gemstones because they do not arise from the depths of the earth but from the sea. They require no special

cutting or polishing to maximize their lustrous beauty, which has been treasured since ancient times and ensures that pearl jewelry is always in style (Brilliant Earth). Pearls come from creatures of sea called mollusk, which includes clams, scallops and oysters. Oysters are the type of mollusk that actually produce the pearls (Seasky.org). There are four main types of pearls the freshwater pearl, akoya pearl (Japanese and Chinese), Tahitian pearl, and lastly south sea pearl.
Fresh water pearls are the most durable and lasting cultured pearl.

The primarily come from the Hyriopsis Cumingi mussel, also known as “triangle shell” because of its shape. China is the largest producer of freshwater pearls, they come in a wide range of colors, shapes, sizes, qualities, and price points. The Japanese akoyta pearls are saltwater peals produced by Pinctada Fucata oyster, which is small in size roughly about 8-13cm in diameter; therefore, producing pearls in sizes of 2mm-8mm. The Pinctada Fucata oyster was the first mollusk ever used to commercially culture pearls in the late 1800’s (Pearls in

time).
The Tahitian pearls come from the pinctada margaritifera oyster or commonly known as the black-lipped oyster. The oyster they come from is twice as large as the akoya oyster and can produce pearls that are 8mm to 20mm in size. They were first discovered in the mid 1700’s by the European explorers. In 1850 the demand for this rare black pearl was high and due to over harvesting these peals and the oyster they come from where almost extinct. In the 1880’s there was a restriction placed on pearl fishing when the French gained control over the islands. These pearls first appeared in the international market, and they also come in other shades of grey, blue, green, and brown. The last most common pearl is the south sea pearl, they are grown in the pinctada maxima oyster and they are found of the coasts of Australia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand. The three main producers of these pearls are Australia, Indonesia, and Thailand. These beautiful pearls are known for their satin luster, thick nacre, and there wonderful array of colors (Pearls in time).
The trend in wearing pearls or just owning pearls started with the Egyptians, whom would want to be buried with their fine jewelry. It is reported that Cleopatra dissolved a single pearl in wine and drunk it, to win to a bet with Mark Anthony, proving she could consume the wealth of an entire nation in one meal (American pearl). In many ancient cultures it was a privilege to own and wear pearls, you had to be of a certain status in the kingdom to wear them and most importantly own them. Some cultures such as the Chinese civilization believed that pearls had special powers like protecting them from fire and dragons (Brilliant Earth).
Famous people who made pearls known were Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe.

Elizabeth Taylor husband Richard Burton gave her a famous pearl named La Peregrina which is white, pear shaped, saltwater pearl formerly owned by Prince Phillip II who also gifted it to wife (Brilliant Earth). Elizabeth Taylor was in love with pearls, she used them to market her brand which was poise and elegant. Marilyn Monroe also was a fan of pearls, she treasure a simple 16 inch string of pearls given to her by husband Joe DiMaggio on their honeymoon in Japan (Brilliant Earth). Grace Kelly a 20th century icon also was a big fan of luxury jewelry and pearls especially during her on screen days and when she became the Princess Grace of Monaco (Brilliant Earth).

Pearls can be found in most well know jewelry stores like Zale’s, Kay jewelry, JCPenny, Macy’s, Dillard’s, Tiffany and Company and etc. The store commonly for their prized pearls is Tiffany and Company, their prices vary based on length of pearl item, type of pearl, and also what collection the pearls are from. Pearls from Tiffany’s range from $300-$2,000. The other commercial stores listed typically sale their pearls at fair

prices.
Pearls are very relevant in the 21th century, as shown on TV these famous people are clothed in thousand and even millions dollars’ worth of jewelry on the red carpet. The older generation still believe in fine jewelry and antiquing, so they go around to the best shops to find vintage style pearls that are affordable and in good condition. In many families like mines pearls are prized possession and are handed down from generation to generation giving every girl an opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of owning luxury pearls.