Pearls In Jewelry
Welcome back to the Stewart Kuper Jewelers blog. This week we are discussing pearls. In our last post, we provided a brief introduction to pearls. We told you what pearls were and touched on where they came from. We also introduced the subject of cultured pearls, which are created in oyster farms. Today we are going to discuss pearls in jewelry, looking at their history and their contemporary use. Let’s begin.
History Of Pearl Jewelry
The history of so many iconic gems and styles of jewelry can be traced back directly to the Egyptians. Pearls are no different. The Egyptians were one of the first cultures to value pearls. In fact, they valued them so much that prominent Egyptians such as Pharos were often buried with pearls. In the Dark ages, pearl necklaces were worn by noble women as signs of status and by knights for luck in battle. When settling the New World, Europeans discovered pearls in the waters surrounding Central America. Their greed for these unique beauties was so strong that the population of pearl-producing American oysters was almost completely depleted by the end of the 17th century.
All throughout this history pearls were incredibly valuable, available only to the very rich. Since the advent pearl cultivation, their availability has dramatically improved. Today, pearls are affordable and available to all.
Pearls can be used in all types of jewelry, including rings, earrings, and necklaces. Throughout history, their most prominent use has been for necklaces. Pearl necklaces are categorized by length. A collar is snug and fits directly against the throat. A choker is slightly looser and hangs to the base of the neck. The princess length, which hangs to the collarbone is one of the most popular available styles. The Opera length is one of the longer styles. it is usually between 30-36 inches in length.
