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Seasonal: Pearl is June's
Birthstone
- Pearl is June's Birthstone
- Sam Serio
If you're still young enough
to remember your birthday, you probably also remember the special
birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet you don't
really know the SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and what power
the ancients felt would be bestowed about you by wearing it.
June's Birthstone: Pearl Birthstone Properties: Truth
and beauty Alternative Birthstones: Moonstone and Alexandrite
Pearl is the official birthstone
of the month of June. It is also the accepted anniversary gemstone
for the 3rd and 30th years of marriage. Pearls have adorned crowns,
clothing, and temples, and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra,
yet there are perfectly suited to young girls and are a popular
gift for first communion.
Pearls come in a wide range
of colors from delicate rose white to black. The higher the luster
or “orient,” the more valuable the specimen. Greeks
believed that pearls were the hardened tears of joy that the
Love Goddess shook from her eyes as she was born from the sea.
In Arab legend, pearls were formed when oysters were lured from
the depths of the ocean by the beautiful moon and then swallowed
moonlit dewdrops. Ancient Chinese thought that these gems originated
from the brains of dragons.
Whatever their origins,
pearls are magnificent!
Round Pearl…and Her Shapely
Sisters It's hard to believe that the coveted pearl comes naturally
from one of the humblest of life forms -- the mollusk. Divers
find natural pearls in The Persian Gulf as well as in the waters
off Japan, the South Pacific Islands off northern Australia,
and the coasts of Panama, Venezuela, and California.
Besides the popular round shape
most people associate with pearls, there are also large hemispherical
cultured pearls (called mabe), fresh water pearls (elongated
in interesting shapes and colors) and South Sea cultured pearls
(from Australia and Indonesian waters) that grow to 10 mm and
up!
Gems of unsurpassed beauty
and elegance, pearls have been a passion and even an obsession
of people throughout the ages. They have been ground up and used
in cosmetics and as a medicine to treat heart and stomach conditions.
Some cultures swear by pearls as an aphrodisiac.
Only those with royal status
once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually these gems were seen
among all classes of people. They continue to be viewed as a
mark of taste and refinement as well as a symbol of purity, and
they are often given to celebrate a marriage or the birth of
a child. Pearls are nature's perfect gift, suitable for all ages,
and elegantly worn with everything from jeans to an evening gown.
Alternate Birthstones
Moonstone is a type of feldspar
that earned its name because of its resemblance to the iridescent
sheen of the moon. Varying in color from clear to blue-white
or peach, it was believed to endow the wearer with great spiritual
understanding. A gift of this stone is symbolic of health and
longevity.
Alexandrite. A yellowish or
brownish green in color, this gemstone has the unique characteristic
of changing color to a red hue when exposed to a glowing light
source, such as candlelight. Because of this quality, it has
been characterized by poets as "an emerald by day, a ruby
by night."
_______________________________________
- Author:
-
- Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer,
musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones.
For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite
you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE
copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being
Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals
almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones,
but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.
- _______________________________________
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- Article Posted:
June 6, 2007
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