Pink pearls: description and properties
Fine pearl grains confidently occupy a leading position among expensive jewelry, delighting in a variety of colors and shapes. Organic mother-of-pearl, such as pink pearls, is not a gem, but is highly prized because of its naturalness.
Production technology
For many centuries, up to the 15th century, our ancestors believed that pearls were petrified drops of dew or rain. Only in 1761, the Swedish naturalist and physician K. Linnaeus conducted an experiment, during which he was able to prove natural origin of pearls. Burmese grain or natural pearls are naturally formed inside the shells of mollusks.
When a grain of sand, algae or plankton enters the shell, the mollusk activates the body's defenses and begins to "attack" the foreign body with the produced substance - mother of pearl.
Thus, pearls are gradually formed, which can be of various shapes and shades. Large pearls will take about 20 years to form. For this reason, pearl mining is a very laborious process, which significantly increases the cost of it.
To date, a process for cultivating pearls has been developed, when glass beads are placed in the shell of the shellfish, which they envelop with a layer of mother-of-pearl. This is how people can control the size, shape and color of the pearl to come. The mineral obtained in this way has a slightly reduced cost than the natural one.
When viewed in UV rays, a natural pearl emits a blue glow, and a cultivated one - a green one.
Nowadays, almost all pearls on the world market are artificially grown, since in 1952 it was forbidden to extract natural stone all over the world. Leading positions in pearl cultivation are Japan, Australia, Philippines, Burma, Tahiti.
Characteristics of the stone
The pink shade of pearls is an organic sedimentary product of a mollusk. The pearl itself is similar in composition to the shell of a mollusk and consists of three layers: the outer layer of conchiolin, the middle, prismatic layer of microcrystalline argonite, and the pink pearl is the inner layer. Outwardly, pink pearls are opaque, and their alluring luster is the result of the reflection of sunlight between the layers. According to the principle of cultivation, pearls are divided into 2 types:
- nautical - grown by molluscs that live in sea water;
- river - is grown by freshwater molluscs (such pearls need to be dyed).
The most widespread variety of pink pearls is considered to be the Caribbean; it is widely used in the production of jewelry.
The color scheme of a pearl directly depends on the type of mollusk-creator and the conditions for its cultivation. In nature, there are about 120 different shades of pearls: from white, pink, blue, cream, to black. Pearls of blue-green color are considered the rarest. This variety is found only near Indonesia. Vanilla pink pearls with a characteristic luster can be found in the Manara and Persian Gulfs.
High quality black mother-of-pearl originates in the Pacific Ocean on the Pearl Islands in Polynesia.
In terms of shape, pink pearls have no restrictions. It can be in the form of a perfect ball or an absolutely irregular shape (baroque). A rare type of mineral of the Baroque form resembles the outlines of various figures, animals, birds, the contours of a human face and has the name Paragon. The softness of shades and brilliance of pink Burmytsky grain is so natural and gentle that in ancient Rome it was dedicated to Venus.
Pearl value
At the beginning of the 20th century, jewelry with natural pink mother-of-pearl was very valuable: the cost of some items could reach $ 250,000. Natural pearls are also expensive in the modern world. For example, in 2007, at one of the popular auctions, the necklace of the Indian Queen Baroda was sold for $ 7,000,000. The cost of a natural mineral is formed from the following points.
- The size of the stone (large pearls are more expensive, small pearls are cheaper). It should be noted that a pearl less than 3.5 mm in size is more expensive than a medium-sized pearl, as smaller stones require a more labor-intensive processing process.
- Shape and degree of gloss (spherical with high luster are appreciated higher).
- Smooth or rough surface (a smoother mineral is more expensive).
- Place of cultivation (sea or river) - sea pearls exceed the cost of river ones almost 6 times.
When buying pink pearls at too low a price, it is worth asking if the stone is a fake. The real mineral is even heavier in weight than the imitated one, and it is characterized by a certain "coolness" to the touch.
The perfect smoothness of the beads is also a sign of fake, since the natural mineral is rough.
Mineral magic
Since ancient times, pearls (especially irregular ones) have been prescribed amazing magical properties. Such stones were used to create amulets, amulets that attract prosperity, love and happiness to the owner, the ability to easily overcome difficulties. The ancient Egyptian queens Cleopatra and Semiramis preferred jewelry with pink pearls because of its magical powers. It was believed that mother-of-pearl on a woman's neck or hand provides her with eternal youth and beauty.
In the Middle Ages, on the wedding day, it was customary for the bride to give jewelry with pearls as a symbol of happiness and femininity.
During these times, the clothes and homes of wealthy people were also adorned with pearls.Many modern lithotherapists note the healing properties of pink pearls and the ability to protect their owner from diseases. Mineral jewelry is recommended to be worn by people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular, digestive systems and urolithiasis. In addition, the stone helps to restore internal balance, eliminates depressive conditions.
In astrology, pink pearls also occupy a certain place. It is believed that this stone helps to meet true love, overcome embarrassment and normalize communication with members of the opposite sex. Astrologers prescribe a certain influence on people according to their zodiac sign to the Burmyk seed of a pink hue:
- for Gemini he will help in solving important problems, managing the storm of emotions;
- happy life Pisces will be able to provide a small pearl decoration;
- mineral will help tame a stormy character Leo;
- for Vodoleev the stone will become a talisman against envious people and gossip;
- Scorpions pearls of black color are more suitable;
- Taurus pink pearls will help sharpen attention and develop memory;
- Libra the mineral will protect from evil conversations and the evil eye;
- to cope with long-standing ailments, the stone will help Cancers;
- Capricorn pink pearls will delight you with their soothing effect;
- it will become the most powerful amulet for the sign Virgin;
- Aries pink pearls will fill with positive energy;
- but for a strong energy sign Sagittarius pink pearls are ineffective.
Pearl products
The uniqueness and rarity of pink pearls increases the demand for them. This stone is ideally combined with any precious metals and is used to make beads, necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, pendants. Due to its luxurious appearance, Burmese grain can be used independently. The sophisticated and chic look of pearl jewelry allows you to use it in conjunction with a variety of styles of clothing, both casual and evening.
The most popular piece of jewelry is the pearl thread.
This piece can be combined with any outfit. For everyday wear, a delicate ring or bracelet would be the best option. With the help of a pearl thread, you can emphasize the elegance and status of every woman. The formal business style will be complemented by discreet and medium-sized products made of pink pearls, without unnecessary details. Small pearls are suitable for young girls, medium-sized pearls for middle-aged women, but large pearls are perfect for more mature ladies.
To maximize the service life of pink mother-of-pearl products, consider the following factors:
- the mineral should be stored separately from other items made of precious metals in velvet or velor boxes;
- it is necessary to maintain a constant temperature regime, to prevent sudden temperature changes;
- it is not recommended to wear pearls on hot summer days, as the heat affects them badly;
- during cleaning using various detergents, rings and bracelets with pink mother-of-pearl should be removed;
- Use a soft dry cloth or cloth to clean and polish pearls.
Beautiful and amazing pink pearls, carrying the positive energy of love and happiness, rightfully occupy a leading position among exquisite gemstones. The complex process of growing and processing pearls makes them very expensive, but "real" cannot be cheap.
See below for the healing properties of pearls.