Pearls Galore

Hello world! If you have been a fan of Jaimie Nicole for some time, then you might have noticed one thing: we love our pearls. Pearls are a classic and elegant way to bring style to any outfit. As you may have guessed, this blog is all about pearls! We are going to be discussing the different types of pearls that there are, their origins in pieces of jewelry, and much more. If this is something that interests you, then please keep reading! Officially the world’s oldest gem, pearls have been revered since long before written history. For this reason, their discovery cannot be attributed to one person in particular, but it is believed that they were first discovered by people searching for food along the seashore. We know that they have been worn as a form of adornment for millennia thanks to a fragment of pearl jewelry found in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess that dates back to 420 BC, which is now on display at the Louvre in Paris. Pearls were presented as gifts to Chinese royalty as early as 2300 BC, while in ancient Rome, pearl jewelry was considered the ultimate status symbol. So precious were the spherical gems that in the 1^st century BC, Julius Caesar passed a law limiting the wearing of pearls only to the ruling classes. The abundance of natural oyster beds in the Persian Gulf meant that pearls also carried great importance in Arab cultures, where legend stated that pearls were formed from dewdrops that were swallowed by oysters when they fell into the sea. Before the advent of cultured pearls, the Persian Gulf was at the center of the pearl trade and it was a source of wealth in the region long before the discovery of oil. With such a long and ancient history, it is no wonder that, over time, the pearl became shrouded in myth and legend. In ancient China, pearl jewelry was said to symbolize the purity of the wearer while, in the Dark Ages, knights often wore pearls on the battlefield, believing that the precious gemstones would keep them safe. According to legend, Cleopatra crushed a pearl into a glass of wine to prove to Marc Anthony that she could give the most expensive dinner in history. Unlike gemstones that are mined from the earth, a living organism produces a pearl, and, in fact, their very existence is a freak of nature. A pearl is formed when an irritant, such as a parasite or piece of shell, becomes accidentally lodged in an oyster’s soft inner body, causing it to secrete a crystalline substance called nacre, which builds up around the irritant in layers until a pearl is formed. Cultured pearls are formed through the same process, the only difference being that the irritant is implanted in the oyster rather than entering it by chance. Until the start of the 20^th century, the only way of collecting pearls was through divers risking their lives at depths of up to 100 feet to retrieve the pearl oysters. It was a dangerous pursuit and one that carried limited chance of success as a ton of oysters would throw up only three or four quality pearls. Freshwater mollusks living in shallow rivers and streams were easier to gather, but these pearl beds were often reserved for harvesting by royalty. Here at Jaimie Nicole we like to use freshwater pearls and mother of pearl. Mother of pearl refers to the inner lining of different mollusk shells, pearl oysters, freshwater pearl mussels, and abalone. It is iridescent and relatively affordable. We love mother of pearl because it is a perfect neutral. This versatile stone can be worn during the summer but is also gorgeous as a winter white. Some of our favorite mother of pearl products include our Set of 6 Mother of Pearl bracelets, available in 14k gold filled and sterling silver. Our sets of six handmade bracelets are a perfect way to get your arm party rocking! Another fun and very wearable piece is our Mother of Pearl with Multi Colored Teardrop Necklace. This necklace is great because although the main part of the necklace is a neutral color -white- there are little colored teardrops scattered throughout the necklace for just the right pop of color.   We have put what we like to call a modern twist on the classic freshwater pearl. A lot of our freshwater pearl products include a little cubic zirconia in the middle of them. This playful pop of sparkle brings fresh innovation to your every day classic pearl. Our Pearl CZ and Chain Drop Earrings scream sophistication and elegance. We love these for a date night, or simply any night when you want to feel chic and put together. For our stud girls out there, we also have this design available in a beautiful classic stud. Our Pearl CZ Stud Earrings are a must-have! They are ideal to dress up or down and can be worn as a stylish every day stud. And of course, we can’t forget about our bracelets. Different colored pearls are a great way to add some life to your pearl jewelry collection. We absolutely love our Set of 3 Bracelets with Tricolor Pearls. Available in 14k gold filled and sterling silver, this effortless set of bracelets is sure to become a staple in your wardrobe in no time! We are excited to be introducing a new pearl lariat this holiday season also. Our Chain Pearl Lariat can be worn so many different ways and is available in a large variety of colors. It comes in onyx, ruby, pyrite, tourmaline, and lapis. We know you will absolutely fall in love with it.  We are excited to be introducing a new pearl lariat this holiday season also. Our Chain Pearl Lariat can be worn so many different ways and is available in a large variety of colors. It comes in onyx, ruby, pyrite, tourmaline, and lapis. We know you will absolutely fall in love with it.       We hope you enjoyed learning about one of our favorite materials to use. If you have any questions or want to see these products for yourself in person, please feel free to stop by our Coral Gables showroom. We are open Monday -Friday from 10 am to 5:30 pm. We are located at 4649 Ponce de Leon Blvd, suite 305 Coral Gables, Fl 33146. Can’t wait to see you here! Xo, Jaimie Nicole