Pearl
Stone for Prosperity
A guide for the history, meaning, metaphysical uses, purposes, crystal healing, and properties of the elegant Pearl.
History
Show those pearly pearls! Pearls are a stone for prosperity that can accentuate your personal style and give it an air of elegance. A good, natural, and wild pearl is quite rare, but where do they come from? Pearls are naturally occurring nacreous material found in mollusks. Pearls were first described in 2206 B.C. China. They have long been a precious, highly valuable material used in jewelry, décor, art, and various crafts. Although often depicted as a white, reflective material, pearls can vary widely in color and appearance.
They are rare naturally, but since the discovery of cultured pearls in 1893 Japan by Kokichi Mikimoto, they are much more common and cheaper. Historically, they were expensive and even today natural pearls are quite pricey. Cultured pearls are made by taking a piece of a mollusk’s mantle (they must be of the same species) and placing a shell bead into another mollusk. Alternatively, no bead can be used but this requires more mantle tissue. With a bead, the mantle tissue grows around the bead, produces nacre, and a pearl is formed. Without a bead, the nacre forms around the mantle tissue. There are multiple types of cultured pearls. These are Akoya, South Sea, Tahitian, and Freshwater.
Natural pearls could sell for incredibly high prices. In one instance, Pierre Cartier traded two strands of natural pearls for the Plant Mansion on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Morton Plant, the owner of the mansion, was willing to take the pearls as his wife wanted the necklace and Morton himself wanted to leave the home as the street was crowded with new businesses and many of the old families he knew had left. Cartier turned it into a luxury goods store and the rest is history. The building still stands today, virtually untouched since the early 20th century, with the exception of a few touchups.
Scientific Information
Hardness: 2.5-4.5
Lustre: Pearly
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Etymology: N/A
Location: Global (wherever mollusks are found) but are naturally rare
Metaphysical Properties of Pearl
Mother of pearl has many beneficial metaphysical properties. Peal stones bring calm and soothing energies and are a stone for prosperity. They are also a:
- Stone for Femininity
- Stone for Imagination
The metaphysical properties of pearls make them useful for meditation and divine practices.
The Wrap Up
Pearls, a stone for prosperity, have a long and rich history of giving people an extra touch of class. In recent times they have become more accessible, allowing many to work with and admire them. Natural pearls will remain some of the most beautiful and expensive. However, due to the unique properties of pearls, this gemstone can be useful for a spiritual journey, bringing calm and soothing energies.
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Sources
https://www.gia.edu/pearl
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-02/the-juicy-103-year-history-of-new-york-s-famed-cartier-mansion
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