Pearls have been around for as long as clams and oysters have (so that’s a long, long time) and as soon as they were discovered, they caught the attention of the future civilisations.

In ancient mythology, pearls were believed to be ‘tears of gods’ or ‘dewdrops filled with moonlight.’ As early as 2300 BC, pearls were prized in China and were often used as gifts to royalty. In Hinduism and Buddhism, pearls are associated with purity, enlightenment and spiritual transformation, a trait that’s still reflected in their association with weddings nowadays.

Then there was Cleopatra, who famously dissolved a pearl in vinegar and drank it to win a bet with Mark Antony, which demonstrated their immense value at the time. By the 1st century BC, pearls were considered the ultimate symbol of wealth and social status in Roman society. Julius Caesar passed a law limiting the wearing of pearls to the ruling classes and pearls continued to be highly valued in Europe throughout the Middle Ages.

During the Renaissance, pearls became even more popular in Europe, symbolising wealth, power and beauty. They were featured heavily in the clothing and jewellery of the time, which you can see in various famous works of art of the time.

With the discovery of pearls in the New World, especially in the waters off the coasts of present-day Venezuela and Panama, the European demand for pearls grew even further throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. The love for this precious little gem never really waned and it’s been part of art, fashion and culture all around the world until this very day. Pearl also happens to be one of the less popular birthstones for June.

Pearls, while beautiful, somewhat live up to their delicate and dainty status. They’re substantially less durable compared to many other gemstones, with a rather low hardness on the Mohs scale, typically around 2.5 to 4.5. Considering the mighty diamond is a perfect 10, this means pearls can be easily scratched by harder materials.

Pearls are also sensitive to chemicals. Remember that Cleopatra story from earlier? As they’re organic and composed mainly of calcium carbonate, they’re sensitive to acids, even weak ones like vinegar or lemon juice. Exposure to chemicals found in cosmetics, perfumes, and even as it seems, salad dressing, can damage their surface quite a bit.

They can also be easily damaged by impacts and abrasions, so you wouldn’t want to bite them (as some old wives tales suggest…) or scratch them against some furniture or your other jewellery. The best way to treat them is as if they were a precious and delicate egg that comes out for special occasions and needs an extra bit of TLC and attention.