How Do Oysters Make Pearls?
One of our favorite sayings at Grit & Grace Studio is “No grit, no pearl!” We embrace the message of hard work and perseverance, but we also love the reminder of how one of our favorite gemstones (though it is technically not a stone!) came to be.
Have you ever thought about where pearls come from? If your answer was “my partner” or the jewelry store, we salute you. If you’re wondering where pearls came from before that precious tiny gift box, however, we have crafted an informative, in-depth blog post on the history, meaning, and process by which oysters make pearls - and it is truly awe-inspiring.
We believe there is so much to be learned from our favorite little mollusks, and we hope you find answers, inspiration, and maybe even a new signature piece of handcrafted pearl jewelry in the post below!
History of Pearls
The history of humanity’s love for pearls stretches so far back, we can’t quite say for sure when it started. Likely, people became enamored with pearls more than 164,000 years ago, when archaeologists believe man first began eating oysters.
What we do know for sure about the history of pearls is that Cleopatra once crushed and then drank a pearl earring during a dinner with Marc Anthony (name a more boss babe party trick; we’ll wait). Both the Koran and the Bible mention the value of pearls, the Chinese hunted for saltwater pearls extensively during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220 A.D), and decorative mother-of-pearl was used at least as far back as 4200 B.C. in Egypt.
And, apparently, upholstering your sofa with pearls was all the rage among first-century Romans, though we have to imagine their guests might have departed with a bit of a limp.
The insatiable demand for these lustrous gems led to the game-changing moment in the history of pearls: the development of the cultured pearl industry, though there’s a bit of a debate about who won the race to create the first cultured pearl.
Some will argue British Biologist William Saville-Kent in Australia discovered the method of creating cultured pearls, and it was brought to Japan by Tokichi Nishikawa and Tatsuhei Mise, but other sources hold that Japanese entrepreneur Mikimoto Kōkichi invented the cultured pearl. Either way, it was Mikimoto who hit the ground running with use of the patent to create the beginnings of the cultured pearl industry we know and love today.
How Do Oysters Make Pearls?
Firstly, did you know that mollusks other than oysters make pearls? While we mostly credit the oyster with pearl production, both saltwater and freshwater mollusks can create pearls. Oysters, mussels, abalones, conchs, pen shells, and whelks all produce pearls, and those precious gems range in shape and color.
Ayoka pearls, the ones made so famous by Mikimoto Kōkichi, are the classic white or cream, perfectly round, high luster pearls we know and love so much. The Tahitian pearl, which was first cultured in the 1970s, boasts a variety of subtle gray, green, or purple hues. South Sea pearls, the largest of cultured pearls, are available in shades ranging from cream to orange, and freshwater pearls are available in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.
No matter their mollusk of origin or whether they’re natural or cultivated pearls, all pearls come about the same way: an irritant, whether a piece of grit, food, or foreign body, slips between the hard outer shell of the mollusk and mantle, the protective layer that covers the mollusk’s organs. To protect itself, the oyster encapsulates the intruder with a protective layer of nacre.
What’s nacre? Nacre is a mineral substance that’s a component of the mollusk’s shell; it’s also known as mother-of-pearl, which is in and of itself a prized product.
The oyster will continue to add layer upon layer of nacre around the piece of grit until it makes a pearl! Thus, you’ve discovered the origin of our favorite saying, “No grit, no pearl!”
Meaning of Pearls
Prior to the arrival of the cultured pearl industry, pearls were so rare that they were worn almost exclusively by royalty and nobility, making them the ultimate symbol of wealth and prosperity.
As time went on and pearls became more accessible, they became a symbol of classic beauty and purity, and a traditional gift for a bride or bride-to-be.
People have also long held the meaning of pearls to be perfection, incorruptibility, longevity, and fertility. Finally, pearls are often revered as a symbol of wisdom gained through experience, integrity, and loyalty.
Grit & Grace Pearl Jewelry
Our Angel Oak Earrings feature wire-wrapped pearl chains and delicate, luminescent glass pendants. The Angel Oak Earrings’ design pays homage to Charleston’s iconic live oaks laden with Spanish moss, and we designed these gorgeous earrings to be dressed up or dressed down. Pair them with a crisp white shirt and your favorite tailored jeans or an elegant linen sundress! These are also our most popular bridal earrings: nestle a pair of Angel Oak Earrings in a Customized Oyster Ring Dish for the ultimate congratulatory wedding gift. $68
Our Grit Adjustable Bolo Collection is our most popular, and you can wear your pearl Grit Necklace or Bracelet alone or layered for a style all your own. The bolo-style slide chain ensures a comfortable fit for any wrist or neckline, and this delicate, contemporary design reminds you that you have the grit that it takes to create a pearl during even the roughest of waters. From $30
Embrace the color and vibrancy of Charleston’s infamous Rainbow Row with these sweet, sophisticated earrings. Available in a variety of colors combinations, the pearl connector gem is the most elegant and classic design style, and we hope these earrings will inspire you to stay faithful to your own true colors. Enjoy them every day or wear them with your favorite formal dress; the world is your oyster! $60
Inspired by Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, “The Gold-Bug,” which takes place on beautiful Sullivan’s Island, the Gold Bug Necklace reminds you that your real treasure is your grit and ability to turn any hardship into a pearl on your life’s adventure. Layer this sophisticated, feminine pearl necklace with your other favorite pieces, or wear it alone as a delicate and refined statement piece. $70
The Little Folly Necklace celebrates both oysters and pearls, and it features a pearl-wrapped wire chain and gilded oyster pendant. Named for our favorite funky beach town, this petite oyster necklace is the perfect accessory for casual parties on the pier or candlelit dinners downtown. Let this delicate oyster necklace remind you that the world is your oyster! $80
Celebrate your inner strength and fortitude with our stunning Moxie Sea Glass Necklace. We designed the Moxie to remind the wearer that stormy waters give rise to strong mermaids and that without a bit of grit, there would never be pearls. This delicate, feminine necklace is available in 3 colors and 2 different lengths, so you can layer your Moxie Necklace or let it stand alone as a statement piece. From $80
Just as there would be no pearls without a little grit, there would be no beautiful Charleston beaches without our oyster beds. Grit & Grace Studio is devoted to saving our seas and restoring our fragile marshland ecosystems through our in-house oyster shell recycling program.
For every oyster product sold, Grit & Grace Studio recycles 10 oyster shells from Charleston restaurants back to Lowcountry oyster reef restoration projects. To date, we have reclaimed more than 5,000 gallons of shells that would otherwise have gone to a landfill.
Shop our Oyster Jewelry Dishes, Decoupage Oyster Shell Dishes, and Gilded Oyster Garland today. Let our calligraphy team personalize an Oyster Shell Ornament or Oyster Blessing Beads with a loved one’s name or holiday greeting for a truly thoughtful gift-giving experience.
One Love & Blessings,