In honor of June’s birthstone, take our quiz to see how much you know about pearls. Be sure to let us know how you did in the comments.
Enjoy!
1. La Peregrina, noted as the “Richest Pearl in the World,” was owned and frequently worn by Jackie Kennedy.
False: It was Elizabeth Taylor who possessed the rich gem, which was purchased by her love Richard Burton for a mere $37,000 in 1969. In an auction of the star’s jewels in December 2012, the piece went for a cool $11.8 million. Talk about an investment.
2. Cleopatra was said to have dissolved a pearl in wine and drank it to prove her love to Marc Antony.
True: Legend has it that the Queen of Egypt made a pretty mean pearl cocktail, tossing her own pearl earrings into a vinegar-based solution (some say wine), which she then drank; an example of the extravagant consumption she and Marc Antony enjoyed. Expert opinions differ, but the general consensus is that neither wine nor vinegar will dissolve pearls on the spot, as the legend says it does. Still, they don’t escape unscathed.
3. It’s imperative that you tell your customers to always hang their pearls when storing them away.
False: We can’t discourage this enough. Never. Hang. Pearls. The weight weakens the silk thread that the pearls are strung along, increasing the risk of breakage. The necklace can of course always be restrung, but better safe than sorry.
4. The quote, “I favor pearls on screen and in my private life,” was spoken by Marilyn Monroe.
False: While Marilyn was a fan of Mikimoto, this bit of wisdom actually comes from Grace Kelly. The Princess of Monaco was often seen wearing a strand of pearls around her neck, from her starring roles in Hitchcock films to every day fashion.
5. Before the discovery of cultured pearls, the gemstone was highly expensive and only available to royalty, the wealthy, and the well-connected few.
True: Natural pearls are quite rare and therefore pricey, and it wasn’t until the early 1900s that we have had the ability to culture pearls. Now quite common, they have made the gemstones much more affordable for us, ahem, non-royals..
6. Want to know if those pearls are real? Use your teeth.
True: It probably looks weird and perhaps is not the most tactful thing to do in a fine jewelry store, but one of the best ways to tell the difference between real and imitation is to rub a pearl against your teeth (or you can rub two pearls against one another). If it feels gritty, you’ve got yourself a winner—what you’re feeling are the layers of nacre exhibited by a naturally formed, or cultured, pearl. Note, though, that this does not show a natural pearl from a cultured one. If you want to get that specific, you may need an x-ray.
7. Tahitian pearls are the most valuable type.
False: While Tahitian pearls, often called black pearls, are valuable, natural pearls of any kind have proven to be the most expensive. Of the four main types of cultured pearls—South Sea, Tahitian, akoya, and freshwater, South Sea tend to be the most valuable.
8. Mother of pearl is another name for a really, really big pearl.
False: While some tend to use the names interchangeably, mother of pearl isn’t really a pearl at all. The shell, also known as nacre, does tend to come from pearl-bearing mollusks, and results in a strong, iridescent look. You’ll find the material used in everything from jewelry to furniture and musical instruments, and even on the buttons of some cardigans and jackets.
