Interesting Facts about Pearls are as follows:

• Fact 1 - Definition: Pearls have a smooth lustrous round structure having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found inside the shell of a mollusk such as an oyster or clam. Pearls are formed due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle
  • Natural Pearls are either saltwater found in gulfs, seas and oceans or freshwater pearls found in rivers and lakes
  • Cultured pearls are produced when man has introduced an irritant into the mollusk - these are called imitation pearls
• Fact 2 - The origin of the name Pearl is derived from the Latin word "pirum" which means "pear" reflecting the shape of the gem
• Fact 3 - The natural (not dyed) colors of pearls are white, pink pearls, lilac, cream, grey, black and gold
• Fact 4 - The Pearl is the birthstone of the month of June which relates to the Zodiac Sign of Capricorn. Gemini dates: May 21 - June 21
• Fact 5 - The alternative Birthstones for Gemini are Emeralds, Alexandrite, Agate and Rubies
• Fact 6 - The symbolism associated with Pearls is as follows:
  • Loyalty
  • Faithfulness
  • Friendship
• Fact 7 - Pearls are also the Wedding anniversary gemstone and are given as gifts for the 1st, 12th and 30th year of marriage
• Fact 8 - Pearls come in a vast range of natural colors and shades. The type of oyster or mussel determines the color of the pearl together with the geographical location of the oyster or clam
• Fact 9 - The color is mainly determined and caused by the gem's selective absorption of certain wavelengths of light called the body color.
• Fact 10 - The colors of the Pearl gem consist of three components, the hue, tone and saturation:
  • The Hue which gives the first impression of the color
  • The Tone which relates to the the lightness or darkness of the color of the Pearl ranging from light to medium to dark
  • The saturation which relates to the intensity of the Pearl's color, which is measured from dull to strong to vivid
• Fact 11 - Natural Pearls are found in the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Mannar, the South Pacific, the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast of Mexico, Europe, Japan and Australia
• Fact 12 - All gemstones, including Pearls, are graded by color, cut, clarity and carat weight
• Fact 13 - The tradition of giving gifts of birthstone jewelry containing Pearls dates back many hundreds of years
• Fact 14 - There are specific birthstones and gemstones, such as Pearls, which are traditionally given according to the month that a person is born
• Fact 15 - South Sea pearls are famous for their gold colors and Tahitian pearls are famous for their natural black colors