Jewellery School

Pearls are among the oldest gemstones known to humanity, treasured for their natural beauty and rarity for thousands of years. Unlike most gemstones, pearls don’t need to be mined - they are created by living molluscs.

Ancient Beginnings

The exact origins of pearl jewellery are unknown, but archaeological discoveries suggest pearls were being collected and worn thousands of years ago. Ancient civilisations in the Middle East, India and Asia valued pearls as symbols of wealth, beauty and status.

Pearls in Ancient Rome

Pearls became particularly fashionable in Ancient Rome, where they were associated with wealth and social status. Roman women wore pearls in jewellery and even decorated clothing and accessories with them.

Pearls in Asia

Pearls have held deep cultural significance throughout Asia for centuries. In China, they were associated with wisdom, prosperity and good fortune, while in India they became closely connected with royalty, spirituality and ceremonial jewellery.

The Pearl Trade

For centuries, natural pearls were collected by divers from oyster beds and other molluscs. Because natural pearls were rare and unpredictable, high-quality examples were extremely valuable.

Pearl fisheries developed throughout regions including the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Mannar, India, Japan and Australia.

The Birth of Cultured Pearls

A major change came in the early 20th century with the development of successful cultured pearl farming in Japan. Instead of relying entirely on naturally occurring pearls, farmers learned how to introduce a nucleus into oysters and encourage them to produce nacre around it.

This made pearls more accessible and transformed the global pearl industry.

Pearls Today

Today, pearls remain a jewellery classic, available in many varieties including freshwater, Akoya, South Sea and Tahitian pearls. Cultured pearls have made the beauty of pearls accessible to a much wider audience, while natural pearls remain exceptionally rare.