The Meaning of Pearls

With the launch of the Pearl Collection selected by Léa Djadja, we are releasing new jewelry pieces that are adorned by beautiful gems of the water. Pearls have cast their spell upon many different cultures for thousands of years. Let’s take a dive into history and find out more about these shimmering gems of the sea.

Legends About Pearls

There are many old myths and legends about how pearls were created. In ancient Greece, they believed that pearls are tears shed by gods, and myths from Japan state that they are mermaid tears. According to a Persian legend, pearls are created after a storm, when a rainbow comes down from the sky and meets with earth. I’ve also found two Polynesian legends which I especially liked and wanted to share with you:

The first legend is about how pearls were created by the moon. It is said that the moon goddess would often bathe in the ocean, filling the islands with silver light to attract oysters. She blessed the mussels that answered her call with a few drops of heavenly dew, which later turned into pearls.

Another tale is about Oro, the Polynesian god of heavens and fertility. He descended to earth on a rainbow as he wanted to gift the people of Polynesia a black pearl. But as soon as he arrived, he immediately fell in love with the princess of Bora Bora and gave the precious black pearl to her as a symbol of his everlasting love. 

Symbolism of Pearls

With their serene beauty, pearls have been associated with the moon, wisdom, water, the sea, beauty, purity, and love in many cultures for thousands of years. In ancient Rome, pearls were a symbol of wealth and therefore only the ruling class was allowed to wear them. In Asia pearl necklaces are also symbols of fertility.

Brides & Pearls

There are lots of traditions and superstitions when it comes to weddings. One we probably all know is that the bride should wear “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”. Here is also one that includes pearls: Wearing pearls on your wedding day ensures that your marriage will be happy and you won’t shed tears. Just like the traditional white wedding dress, pearls are a symbol of purity and love which is why they became so popular in Western culture back in the days. Today, we still cherish pearls for their timeless beauty and magical shimmer, making them a perfect choice for bridal jewelry.

It’s safe to say that pearls will always fascinate humanity and therefore pearl jewelry will never go out of style. I hope you liked this little stroll down the lane of pearl history. 

Love

Chiara