In honor of my Pearl themed release, LOVERS AT LAST here are a few snippets about pearls.
1. Pearl is the official birthstone for the month of June. (as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912)
2. Pearls are formed inside mollusks such as oysters and mussels. They are formed when an irritant (a tiny stone or bit of sand) gets inside the mollusk’s shell. A lustrous substance called nacre is secreted around the foreign object to protect the interior of the mollusk. The layers of nacre make a pearl and can take up to seven or eight years to form.
3. The most valuable pearls are perfectly symmetrical and naturally produced. Most of the principal oyster beds are in the Persian Gulf, along the coasts of India and Sri Lanka and in the Red Sea.
4. Once pearls were thought to be the tears of the gods. Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed women from crying.
5. Pearls are thought to give wisdom through experience, to quicken the laws of karma and cement engagements and love relationships.
6. Pearls vary in color from white to those with a hint of color such as pink, brown or black.
7. Pearls are quite soft.
8. Ancient Chinese literature refer to pearls as originating in the brain of a dragon and being lustrous and visible from a thousand yards.
9. Queen Elizabeth 1 loved pearls and wore them around her neck in ropes and embroidered on her dresses.
10. In the 1800s freshwater pearls were found in US rivers. The most famous one was found in 1857 in Patterson, NJ. It was sold to Charles Tiffany for $1500 and later resold for $2500.
11. In the 15th to 17th century people thought pearls were actually the eggs of oysters.
12. Pearls were considered the ideal wedding gifts because they symbolize purity and innocence.
13. During the month of June Ellora’s Cave has several releases all featuring the pearl. Lovers at Last by Shelley Munro (that’s me!) is the first release.
Do you like pearls?
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June 5th, 2008 at 2:32 am · Link
So many things I didnt know….
Great cover by the way , Devin looks great..
June 5th, 2008 at 2:35 am · Link
Interesting stuff – and congrats on the new release!
Happy TT!
June 5th, 2008 at 2:49 am · Link
Savannah, I liked the cover too. It’s one of my favorite gemstone ones.
Thanks, Ms, Menozzi!
June 5th, 2008 at 5:10 am · Link
I love the simplicity of pearls. I have to say, black pearls are beautiful. Happy T13!
June 5th, 2008 at 5:54 am · Link
I love pearls. Elizabeth Taylor owns the La Peregrina Pearl once owned by Mary 1 of England. It’s gorgeous.
The story of the time she lost it and then found it is here.
http://www.karipearls.com/la-peregrina.html
LOL. Think I like pearls?
June 5th, 2008 at 5:54 am · Link
I love pearls. I’ve also heard that if you have pearls, you should wear them! And that the natural oils from your skin gives them a lustrous sheen.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:13 am · Link
Congrats on the new release!! I love the pearl tie in!
June 5th, 2008 at 7:23 am · Link
You gotta wonder why Greeks expected newly wed women to cry.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:52 am · Link
I love pearls. I love them so much.
More than anyother stone. I know it’s not a stone per say …
It wouldn’t have bothered me if my DH had of given me an engagment ring of pearls. I just think they are fantastic.
I have a string of pearls that was my Nanny’s. They are broken, and my grandmother was petite that it would never fit my neck, but I keep them tucked away. I don’t know what I am going to do with them yet.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:16 am · Link
I don’t own any pearls. I’m not much of a jewerly wearer.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:32 am · Link
Great TT! Very informative.
My grandma loved pearls. I remember she had this long pearl necklace.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:05 am · Link
I actually like the imperfect, freshwater pearls. The perfect ones just don’t do it for me.
Although the black pearl my mother bought me is simply gorgeous. So’s it’s setting; that helps.
Best wishes for the release, my friend!!
June 5th, 2008 at 10:27 am · Link
Interesting facts!
*hugs*
Paige
My TT is up on my blog!
June 5th, 2008 at 11:01 am · Link
Interesting TT! Congrats on your new release!
June 5th, 2008 at 11:02 am · Link
I love pearls. I’ve two pearl necklaces, both with pretty locks. There must be something to ‘live’ jewels since one of my other favourites is amber.
June 5th, 2008 at 11:50 am · Link
I love pearls! Which is funny since my birthday is in January. But I have all kinds of costume jewelry, but only one good strand of pearls that belonged to my husband’s grandmother. Congrats on the newest release, Shelley.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:42 pm · Link
Ah, a lot of fellow pearl lovers. I quite like pearls, especially the ones with a pink tinge. Thanks so much for the release congrats. I enjoyed writing this Quickie.