Our new publication in the column ‘Stone mascot of the month’ is about pearls, which occupy and will undoubtedly always occupy a special place among precious stones. Throughout its long and glorious history, it has been highly valued for the silvery colour, which needs no improvement by the craftsman. Until the 15^th century, when the method of cutting and polishing diamonds was invented, that is, until the appearance of diamonds, pearls were the most expensive and invariably the first of the precious stones known at that time. Strictly speaking, pearls are not stones. The delicate pearlescent lustre, the amazing energy of the alluring sea depths and their organic origin make pearls unique jewellery minerals of animal origin. Pearls have been known to humans since ancient times. References to pearls and jewellery made from them have been preserved in the Indian Vedas and on clay tablets found during excavations in Persia. There are historical records showing that the inhabitants of Ancient Babylon were engaged in pearl fishing in the Persian Gulf 2,700 years ago! Today, pearls are harvested off the islands of Indonesia, the coasts of India and Panama, in the coastal waters of Sri Lanka, Mexico, Australia, the Bahamas and the coast of California, as well as in the Persian Gulf and Tahiti.
Pearls were one of the first types of jewellery used by humans. The ancient Greeks believed them to be the frozen tears of a beautiful sea nymph, the Slavs believed them to be reflections of lightning, and the Chinese believed them to be the petrified moonlight.

Today, when we hear the word ‘pearls,’ we first think of Coco Chanel's pearl necklaces, Grace Kelly's simple string of pearls, and elegant stud earrings. We rarely remember (or even know) that pearl embroidery was an extremely popular form of handicraft in Russia, in which Russian craftswomen achieved unprecedented heights! Our northern rivers were so rich in pearls that, incredible as it may sound, even ordinary peasant women could afford luxurious festive dresses completely embroidered with pearls. By the 17^th century, river pearl resources had been virtually depleted.

For many centuries, high-quality pearls were very expensive. However, with the appearance of cultured pearls on the market in the 1920s, this price dominance came to an end. The invention and implementation of successful pearl cultivation techniques are associated with the name of Kokichi Mikimoto (1858-1954).

In many cultures, pearls are considered the most ‘feminine’ of all stones – they promote childbirth and help develop qualities traditionally considered feminine, namely emotionality, tenderness and intuition.

Astrologers believe that jewellery and decorative items with pearls of any shape, colour and size will interact perfectly with people born under the sign of Cancer.

Thematic photo album "Pearl – one of June mascots” is posted in the museum Photo Gallery.

Pearls are called the queens of gems and have been enchanting people for thousands of years. The more we delve into the history of pearls, the more obvious their uniqueness becomes. These precious stones are not only woven into the centuries-old history of humanity, but also remain one of the most popular gems today.

On the cover: Chinese silkworm automaton. Henry Maillardet. Switzerland. Circa 1820