Pearl, The Natural Wonder

Birthstones Series - June Pearl

The month of June is associated with the beginning of summer and carefree weekends spent at favorite vacation spots.  But for the past 100 years, one other thing that is associated with June is the pearl.  Pearl is the official birthstone for the month of June as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. It is also the birthstone for the Sun Signs of Gemini and Cancer.

Pearls are the oldest jewels known to man, and the only gem made by a living creature.  Since the beginning of time, pearls have been revered as one of the world's most beautiful and magical gems, and throughout the ages, with their warm inner glow and shimmering iridescence, have been one of the most highly prized and sought-after natural wonders.

An organic gem, pearls are formed inside mollusks like oysters and mussels. They are formed when an irritant such as a tiny stone or bit of sand gets inside the mollusk's shell. A lustrous substance, called nacre, is secreted around the object to protect the soft internal surface of the mollusk. As layer upon layer of nacre coats the irritant, a pearl is formed. Light that is reflected from these overlapping layers produces a characteristic iridescent luster. This process of building a solid pearl can take up to seven or eight years.

Pearls are unlike other gemstones because they do not have to be cut and polished to enhance their natural beauty—they grow into it on their own. No wonder pearls have been prized for their beauty, perfection, and rarity!

Nobody knows when someone first pried open an oyster and found a pearl. Although there are many stories about the discovery of pearls, the one I like the most is that more than likely the first pearl was discovered when a prehistoric man chipped his tooth when he bit into an oyster that contained a pearl.  With its soft, rainbow-hued inner radiance, that first pearl must have seemed like a magical gift from the gods.

For thousands of years, pearls have been the exclusive gemstones of royalty and nobility in every culture. The oldest surviving pearl necklace is nearly 2,000 years old and was found in the sarcophagus of a Persian Princess.  In China, they were used for over five thousand years to decorate the crowns of emperors, the robes of noblewomen, and the sacred statues of the Buddha.

In ancient Rome and medieval France, only the aristocracy were allowed to wear pearls. In Elizabethan England, only royalty could wear them. Pearls became associated with wealth, status, and power, and ordinary people began to desire them as symbols of these things.

Fascinating myths and legends are associated with the pearl.  Throughout their history, different cultures have assigned various meanings to pearls.  Early Chinese myths told of pearls falling from the sky when dragons fought. Ancient legend says that pearls were thought to be the tears of the gods. Pearls have been considered ideal wedding jewelry for centuries because they symbolize purity and innocence. The Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed brides from crying. An Old Arabic legend romantically explains that the pearls formed when moonlight-filled dew drops descended from the sky into the oceans and were swallowed by oysters.  Another legend has the Hindu god Krishna discovering pearls when he plucks the first one from the sea and presents it to his daughter on her wedding day.  The Ancient Hebrews believed that pearls had been used by God to decorate the Garden of Eden. Roman ladies believed that pearls were lucky and attracted wealth. In China, pearls are symbolic of the incomparable beauty of the legendary pearl maiden, XiShi (or Shecy).

Throughout all of recorded history, pearls were far too valuable and rare for any but the royalty and aristocracy to afford. However, due to advances in pearl cultivation, growing and harvesting technology, pearls are now affordable and accessible to everyone. Today, you can wear a string of pearls that two hundred years ago only a queen could wear.

Pearls are still cherished today as lovely jewelry. They make tasteful gifts, and are usually passed down as treasured heirlooms for generations.  

Happy Birthday to all of you born in June!

Sources:  Gem Select, Crystal Vaults and American Gem Society. Thank you!  

ABOUT ADORA: The journey to selecting the jewelry for your Special Day can be a daunting task, so why not let us custom-design a wedding jewelry style that is uniquely yours. ADORA can bring your vision to life using the same elegant and refreshing style that goes into all of our designs. Handcrafted and completely personalized, we will work closely with you to tailor your jewelry ideas to your needs in order to create the perfect pieces for your Big Day, whether your theme is elegant, vintage, rustic or beach. From matching necklaces for your Bridesmaids or a stunning pair of earrings for yourself, to a unique piece for the Mother of the Bride/Groom and the perfectly delicate bracelet for the Flower Girl, we can do it all. For Customized Jewelry Packages for the Entire Bridal Party, please visit ADORA by Simona's New "Ever After" Collection

Summer Solstice - A Celebration of Life

Sun rising at Stonehenge on Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice is a time of celebration of the cycle of life and of the gifts that the sun and nature have to offer. It is the longest day of the year when the power of the sun is at its strongest, and the day when the north pole is most tilted towards the sun, causing it to have the highest and longest path through the sky.  Based on the Gregorian calendar, the summer solstice occurs some time between June 20 and June 22 in the northern hemisphere, depending on the shift of the calendar. It is also known as Midsummer, Litha and the Northern Solstice because it occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere.

Nearly every agricultural society has marked the high point of summer in some way, shape or form and it has been celebrated as a life and fertility festival by Pagans, Celts and Druids for thousands of years. The travels of the sun were marked and recorded. Stone circles such as Stonehenge were oriented to highlight the rising of the sun on the day of the summer solstice. 

Although few primary sources are available detailing the practices of the ancient Celts, some information can be found in the chronicles kept by early Christian monks. Some of these writings, combined with surviving folklore, indicate that Summer Solstice was celebrated with hilltop bonfires and that it was a time to honor the space between earth and the heavens. 

In addition to the polarity between land and sky, in many cultures Summer Solstice was a time to find a balance between fire and water. European traditions celebrated this time of year by setting large wheels on fire and then rolling them down a hill into a body of water. This may be because this is when the sun is at its strongest yet also the day at which it begins to weaken. Another possibility is that the water mitigates the heat of the sun, and subordinating the sun wheel to water may prevent drought. 

Solstice comes from the Latin words "sol" and "sistere" meaning "sun stands still", a reference to how, when seen from Earth, the sun appears to pause before its position in the sky reverses direction. 

Enjoy every minute of the longest day of the year! I know I will! :)

Source: Wikipedia  and Pagan Wiccan. Thank you!  

Aquamarine, The Treasure of Mermaids

Aquamarine evokes the purity of crystalline waters, and the exhilaration and relaxation of the sea. It is calming, soothing, and cleansing, and inspires truth, trust and letting go.

The name Aquamarine was derived from the Latin words, aqua meaning “water”, and mare meaning “sea”. This is because of its color's close resemblance to sea water. Aquamarine was considered sacred to the god of the sea, Neptune. It is documented that it was used by the Greeks between 480-300 BC. They would wear Aquamarine amulets engraved with the water god Poseidon to protect them against perils and monsters of the sea. Legend also says that Aquamarine was the treasure of the mermaids and for this reason, sailors would wear it to keep them safe on voyages out to sea and prevent seasickness.

Today it protects all who travel by, over, or near water, and opens the channels of clear and heartfelt communication.

It is said that Aquamarine will provide its wearer with everlasting youth and happiness, provide courage, cure laziness and quicken the intellect. Aquamarine can replace anger and negativity with mental peace and clarity, providing the wearer with emotional and mental balance. For these reasons it is said to be an effective treatment for anxiety.

As a love crystal, it is believed that pale blue Aquamarine encourages a lover to return, helps two people with different lifestyles to live together in harmony, and reduces the effects of sensitive issues that cause quarrels.  Aquamarine is often given as a love token or eternity ring, and increases commitment and fidelity "as long as the waters of the earth flow".

Aquamarine is the blue variety of Beryl, being mined mainly in Brazil, but also found in Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan, and Mozambique.

It is the official birthstone for the month of March as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912, and it is also considered the birthstone for the Sun Sign of Pisces.

The pictures below show the difference between a raw aquamarine stone and a cut, polished and enhanced stone. They are both beautiful!

For one-of-a-kind jewelry designs created with both raw and enhanced stones please visit ADORA by Simona.

Honey Moon

A full moon over Greece's Temple of Poseidon in June 2008.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANTHONY AYIOMAMITIS, TWAN

Skywatchers will get a special treat as a full moon occurs tonight, Friday the 13th, something that hasn't happened in June since almost a century ago, in 1919. Known as the Honey Moon, as well as the Strawberry Moon or Rose Moon, the actual full moon occurred very early Friday morning, but will still be nearly full when it rises in the east Friday evening. 

With the sun's path across the sky at its highest during this month of the summer solstice, the moon is at its lowest, which keeps the lunar orb close to the horizon and makes it appear bigger and more amber (hence the name Honey Moon) than other full moons this year. The amber colors are due to the scattering of longer wavelengths of light by dust and pollution in our atmosphere. 

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the name Strawberry Moon name comes from the fact that it's strawberry season, and Algonquin Native American tribes knew this was the time of year to gather the ripening fruit. 

This is the first time since Oct. 13, 2000, that a full moon has occurred on a Friday the 13th of any month, and the last time it will happen until Oct. 13, 2049.

The superstitious may want to steer clear of black cats this Friday the 13th, but venturing outside very early in the morning will be worthwhile. Enjoy the spectacular sight of the full Honey Moon in the night sky, I know I will! 

In today’s world, the phrase "Friday the 13th" rolls off the tongue, instinctively linked to bad luck and strange happenings. Everyone knows Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day. But why does it have such a bad reputation? If you want to learn more about where the superstition of Friday the 13th comes from, read my sequel blog The Myth of Friday the 13th.