

The old saying, “Pearls bring tears” doesn’t seem to be in keeping with wisdom and serenity pearl symbolism. For example, white symbolises innocence, pink symbolises love and romance, yellow symbolises optimism and creativity, and black symbolises protection. A pearl’s colour adds another layer of symbolism. The most common colour of pearls is white, but various types of pearls are found in a variety of colours, depending on the mollusc and geographic location in which they were formed. The gems also symbolises calmness, integrity, loyalty, purity, and serenity. Pearl symbolism is all about wisdom, especially wisdom gained through experience. In modern gem lore, pearl meaning is that of the introspection we need to discover our true selves and our life’s purpose. During the crusades, some knights kept the gems as protective amulets. If we look to the west, we find pearls were a status symbol and sign of wealth in ancient Rome, where they also were thought to offer longevity to their owners. In the Hindu and Buddhist traditions of the Asian subcontinent and Far East, the flaming pearl is a symbol of the inner wisdom that enhances our connection to the divine. Given the gem’s otherworldly beauty, this is hardly surprising. Pearl meanings range from the sublime to the worldly, depending on where in the world you look. Now that we’ve taken a brief look at the science behind the iridescent gems, let’s dive deeper into pearl symbolism and meaning. Irritants can enter the mollusc’s shell naturally or they can be inserted manually, as in the case of cultured pearls. Nacre consists of aragonite and conchiolin, which are the same materials that create the animal’s shell. The oyster or mussel secrete layers of nacre or mother-of-pearl to encase the irritant and prevent it from causing damage. The process begins when an irritant such as a grain of sand or a parasite enters the shell and threatens to damage the mollusc’s soft body. Pearls are the only gems made by living creatures, specifically shelled molluscs such as marine oysters and freshwater mussels. The question, “ Where do pearls come from?” puzzled and fascinated people for millennia. The glistening spheres continue to be used in jewellery and as embellishments and objects of beauty, but there is more to them than shimmer and shine.ĭiscover pearl symbolism, meaning, benefits, care, myths, and more below. Prized by various cultures around the world for thousands of years, pearls are the only gem created by animals.
