How to clean it
Wipe with a damp cloth after wearing. Put pearls on last, after perfume and hairspray, and never soak them.
White, cream, pink, grey, black
Pearl
The birthstone for June.
Properties
Composition
Calcium carbonate (aragonite) in a matrix of conchiolin
Hardness (Mohs)
2.5–4.5
Crystal system
Orthorhombic (aragonite)
Colour
White, cream, pink, grey, black
Mined in
Japan, China, Australia, French Polynesia, Philippines
Worth knowing
Soft enough to scratch with a fingernail and dissolved by acid — perfume, vinegar and sweat all damage it.
History
The only gem produced by a living animal; harvested since at least 2300 BCE in China.
Practical
Caring for Pearl
How to tell it is real
The tooth test still works: rub the pearl gently against a tooth edge. Real nacre feels gritty; plastic and glass feel glassy-smooth.
One general rule covers most mistakes: never store stones loose together. Diamond at 10 on the Mohs scale scratches everything else you own, and it does not need much contact to do it.
What that hardness means in practice
Very soft — a fingernail is around 2.5 on the scale. Protected settings only, and store it separately.
Traditional associations
Pearl is traditionally associated with sincerity, emotional maturity and quiet dignity. In chakra systems it is placed at the Sacral, Crown, and in elemental correspondence it is assigned to Water.
These are cultural associations recorded across various traditions, not claims about physical effects. The composition and hardness above are measurable; this paragraph is folklore, and worth reading as such.
Questions
What is Pearl made of?
Calcium carbonate (aragonite) in a matrix of conchiolin, crystallising in the orthorhombic (aragonite) system.
Which month is Pearl the birthstone for?
June.
Where does Pearl come from?
Japan, China, Australia, French Polynesia, Philippines.
How do I clean Pearl?
Wipe with a damp cloth after wearing. Put pearls on last, after perfume and hairspray, and never soak them.
How can I tell if Pearl is real?
The tooth test still works: rub the pearl gently against a tooth edge. Real nacre feels gritty; plastic and glass feel glassy-smooth.
Can I wear it every day?
At 2.5–4.5 on the Mohs scale, not in a ring. Keep it to pieces that take fewer knocks.