June means the beginning of summer and also means that it’s the pearl’s time in the sun, as it’s the traditional birthstone for June. This incredible, natural gem is a millennia-old tradition, has evolved to include several different types of pearl and has even given rise to the most expensive party in history! Want to know more? Read on!

Since it’s the traditional birthstone for June, we’re all stocked up and ready and have a huge selection of pearl jewelry available for you to browse. We love mixing and matching the traditional with the new, as you’ll see in our collection, but let’s first talk about the different types of pearl so you know a little bit more about this gorgeous gem’s characteristics. 

How a pearl is created is one of the first things you can ask. There are two main ways: natural and cultured.

Natural pearls form in nature when an irritant, maybe a grain of sand, enters a mollusk (oyster), triggering the production of the pearl in layers over many years. These pearls are rare and highly valued due to their organic formation process. Cultured pearls, on the other hand, are partially man-made. They are created by manually inserting a tissue piece into a mollusk to kick-start the pearl production and guaranteeing that the oyster produces. 

From natural to cultured pearls, we move on to freshwater and saltwater pearls. Freshwater pearls are from rivers and lakes. They are known for their many shapes, sizes, and colors, often displaying a light rainbow color. Freshwater pearls are less expensive than saltwater pearls because they can be produced more easily.

Saltwater pearls are produced by oysters found in salt oceans, and include the famous Akoya, South Sea, and Tahitian varieties. These pearls are often rounder, with wide-ranging colors ranging from white to deep black. They are usually more expensive due to the more complicated (and riskier) process.

So, it stands to reason that a saltwater natural pearl is the hardest to obtain, and is the most expensive. A freshwater cultured pearl on the other hand is easier to “make”, and is therefore usually more affordable.

So now you know! Saltwater or freshwater, natural or cultivated – the options abound!. They all have their special appeal and this makes choosing your perfect pearl a fun process. We’re here to help you and make sure you get exactly what you need.

Now as for that expensive party … legend has it that Cleopatra, on bet with Marc Antony, and wanting to impress Rome, held the most expensive banquet in history. She started the party off by crushing a pearl from a pair of earrings, dissolving it in a goblet of wine (or vinegar) and then she drank it. By today’s standards, the pearl she chose would have cost $28.5 million! 

Also, don’t forget that Father’s Day is Sunday, June 16 this year so let’s not forget about Dad!  We know – he doesn’t like a fuss, but he needs one anyway! We have some incredible gifts for Dad, including Hamilton to Seiko timepieces and awesome INOX and Benchmark brand jewelry, We’ll get Dad looking like the rockstar he is!

So come on by the store and check out our cool pearl jewelry selection and an array of gifts for Dad. We hope to see you soon!