Pearl
The ones born in the month of June, your birthstone is "The Pearl". The
word
'Pearl' is derived from the Latin word
"pirum"
which means "pear" and this reflects the shape of this
gemstone.
Pearls are unique as they are the only gems from living sea creatures and
require
no faceting or polishing to reveal their natural beauty. Natural Pearls
are
formed inside oysters. It is a hard object produced within the soft
tissue of a
living mollusk and it is made of calcium carbonate. The ideal pearl is
perfectly
round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls occur.
Ancient Egyptians valued pearls above other precious metals. The oldest
pearl
necklace is thought to be inside the sarcophagus of a Persian princess
who died
in 520 B.C.
Before the creation of cultured or manmade pearls, they were reserved
only for
the noble or rich. In the early 1900s, the first successful commercial
culturing
of round saltwater pearls began. Since the 1920s, cultured pearls have
almost
completely replaced natural pearls in the market.
Ancient
Traditional Birthstones
- Hebrew:
Emerald
- Roman:
Emerald
- Arabic:
Agate
- Hindu:
Pearl
- Polish:
Agate
- Guardian
Angel:
Muriel
- His Talismanic
Stone: Emerald
Some of the qualities associated with this gemstone are loyalty,
faithfulness and
friendship.