| Though pearls are common as parts of more | | | | pearl earring and used the money to finance an |
| expensive jewelries, they were for long, have | | | | entire roman army campaign. |
| been reserved only for the richest people of the | | | | The Romans are the craziest with regards to |
| noblest standards. Before 1900s, a single pearl | | | | pearls but the Arabs have the deepest love for |
| necklace can never be equated to anything. It is | | | | the gem. This affection over the pearl is evident |
| known to be been the most expensive stone | | | | in the Koran, especially in the section where the |
| throughout history and was hailed as the Queen | | | | Paradise is being described. |
| of Pearls. | | | | All these craze on pearls had run down in history |
| Who first discovered pearl and recognized its | | | | due to the gem's rarity. However, by the turn of |
| uniqueness are questions that are still to be | | | | the century, pearls became practically a common |
| answered. But according to George Frederick | | | | jewelry. Most present users actually no longer |
| Kunz, the first American gemologist firmly stated | | | | appreciate the values of their pearl necklaces, |
| his belief that the first people who appreciated | | | | pearl earrings and the likes. This is brought forth |
| pearls and brought them to market is an ancient | | | | by the mass production that has revolutionized |
| fish eating tribe which existed somewhere in the | | | | the status of the most valued gem. |
| Indian coast. | | | | The great irony in the most glorified gem is that |
| And since the first discovery of the pearls, its | | | | even the lesser priced cultured pearl rivals the |
| glory has continued until the present age. Traces | | | | quality of the most expensive natural pearl there |
| of pearls in history tell us that it has been well | | | | is. In a sense, its value was lost over the |
| credited in many of the ancient worlds, specifically | | | | "synthetically" produced pearls. Though this |
| ion China, India, Egypt, and the Roman Empire. | | | | became a very welcomed source of the rare |
| The Romans are notably the craziest people over | | | | pearls, this resulted to unfair treatment of the |
| pearls. This is marked by specific times in Roman | | | | once exulted gem. |
| history when pearls played the central part. The | | | | The major manufacturers of these cultured pearls |
| most celebrated of these is the banquet in | | | | are Japan and China. Kokichi Mikimoto developed a |
| Cleopatra's hall. | | | | technique of producing the gem "on demand". But |
| To convince Mark Antony that Egypt is above | | | | while he painstakingly created his methods, |
| conquest, she showcased her land's wealth and | | | | Tatsuhei Mise and government biologist Tokichi |
| heritage by giving the most expensive dinner in all | | | | Nishikawa independently created the similar |
| history. During the said dinner, Queen Cleopatra | | | | process of pearl culturing. |
| crushed a piece of a large pearl from a pair of | | | | Chinese producers adopted their methods, and |
| pearl earrings. She dissolved the pearl in a goblet | | | | the 1970s astounded the world with the immense |
| of wine or vinegar and drank the liquid down. This | | | | number of literally "cheap" pearls. Thus the coming |
| account ended with Mark Antony declining the | | | | of relatively cheap pearl earrings, necklaces, |
| dinner and the matching pearl earring. He then | | | | pendants and other pearl accessories. |
| gave the admittance that the queen won. | | | | The glory has ended and new trends of pearl |
| The popularity of pearls rose at the height of the | | | | production have arrived. So what's in store for |
| Roman era. On one account by Suetonius, he | | | | pearls now? |
| mentioned that the General Vitellius sold a single | | | | |