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Pearl
is June's Birthstone
If you're still young enough to remember
your birthday, you probably also remember
the special birthstone assigned to it. But
at your age, we bet you don't really know
the SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and
what power the ancients felt would be bestowed
about you by wearing it.
June's
Birthstone:
Pearl
Birthstone
Properties: Truth and beauty
Alternative
Birthstones: Moonstone and Alexandrite
Pearl is the official birthstone of the
month of June. It is also the accepted anniversary
gemstone for the 3rd and 30th years of marriage.
Pearls
have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples,
and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra,
yet there are perfectly suited to young
girls and are a popular gift for first communion.
Pearls come in a wide range of colors from
delicate rose white to black. The higher
the luster or "orient," the more valuable
the specimen. Greeks believed that pearls
were the hardened tears of joy that the
Love Goddess shook from her eyes as she
was born from the sea.
In Arab legend, pearls were formed when
oysters were lured from the depths of the
ocean by the beautiful moon and then swallowed
moonlit dewdrops. Ancient Chinese thought
that these gems originated from the brains
of dragons. Whatever their origins, pearls
are magnificent! Round Pearl…and Her Shapely
Sisters It's hard to believe that the coveted
pearl comes naturally from one of the humblest
of life forms -- the mollusk.
Divers
find natural pearls in The Persian Gulf
as well as in the waters off Japan, the
South Pacific Islands off northern Australia,
and the coasts of Panama, Venezuela, and
California. Besides the popular round shape
most people associate with pearls, there
are also large hemispherical cultured pearls
(called mabe), fresh water pearls (elongated
in interesting shapes and colors) and South
Sea cultured pearls (from Australia and
Indonesian waters) that grow to 10 mm and
up!
Gems
of unsurpassed beauty and elegance, pearls
have been a passion and even an obsession
of people throughout the ages. They have
been ground up and used in cosmetics and
as a medicine to treat heart and stomach
conditions. Some cultures swear by pearls
as an aphrodisiac. Only those with royal
status once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually
these gems were seen among all classes of
people. They continue to be viewed as a
mark of taste and refinement as well as
a symbol of purity, and they are often given
to celebrate a marriage or the birth of
a child. Pearls are nature's perfect gift,
suitable for all ages, and elegantly worn
with everything from jeans to an evening
gown.
Alternate
Birthstones
Moonstone is a type of feldspar that earned
its name because of its resemblance to the
iridescent sheen of the moon. Varying in
color from clear to blue-white or peach,
it was believed to endow the wearer with
great spiritual understanding. A gift of
this stone is symbolic of health and longevity.
Alexandrite. A yellowish or brownish green
in color, this gemstone has the unique characteristic
of changing color to a red hue when exposed
to a glowing light source, such as candlelight.
Because of this quality, it has been characterized
by poets as "an emerald by day, a ruby by
night."
About
the Author
For
more information on jewelry and gemstones,
we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com
to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy
Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped
Off." This concise, informative special
report reveals almost everything you ever
wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones,
but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report
at www.morninglightjewelry.com.
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