The magic inherent in the pearl stone. A few words about the origin of the name. The largest sea pearl

Pearls are the only precious mineral of animal origin: it will take 12 years until a grain of sand accidentally trapped in a pearl shell becomes overgrown with mother-of-pearl and turns into a small, pea-sized pearl stone. Large gems have been created in shells for decades, so they are very expensive.

The history of pearls dates back to antiquity: in the Middle East and India, this mineral was known long before our era. Many tribes of South America, including the Aztecs, were familiar with pearls. Northern Russia has been dealing with pearls since the 10th century. The extracted river pearls were used as adornments for clothes, hats, amulets, weapons and icons. At this distant time, it was already valuable, since it did not require processing, it was attractive and beautiful in its natural form.

One of the most expensive stones in our time is pearls.

The main color of this mineral is white, but it can be with a different tint: blue, pink or yellowish. There are also brownish and even colored stones. Black pearls are the most valuable color.

River pearls, in contrast to sea pearls, are usually irregular in shape - most sea pearls have a regular ball shape. However, the largest sea pearls are mostly non-spherical.

Since pearls are of organic origin, they can deteriorate over time: tarnish, dry out and decompose. The reasons for "aging" can be such factors as high humidity or, conversely, dry air, skin sweat, acids, cosmetics, fats, household chemicals. The mineral does not last forever, but proper care can extend its life up to 150 years.

It is best to buy pearls for yourself or receive them as a gift unworn. It is not worth giving it after it has been worn, but it is possible and even necessary to inherit it. The adornment draws closer to its owner and serves only this person in full force. This feature of the gem is closely related to the fact that the pearl begins to tarnish if the wearer has or will soon develop a serious illness.

The price of pearls is made up of several factors:

• The larger the pearl, the more expensive it is;
• Pearls with a flat surface are more expensive;
• The more ideal the shape of the pearl, the more expensive it is;
• The bright luster of the pearl provides it with a high price;
• The origin of pearls also affects its price: sea pearls cost about 6 times more than river pearls.

Cultured pearls are ...

Cultured pearls are created through the combined efforts of a shellfish and humans. As a result of cultivation, pearls are formed of the required size, color and shape, while in natural pearls these parameters are random.

The only difference between these two types of pearls is the amount of nacre and the rate of maturation. Natural pearls are entirely composed of mother-of-pearl, while cultured pearls have a ball at the base, which is covered with a thin layer of mother-of-pearl during the creation process.

"Roman pearls" are glass beads filled with paraffin. The composition covering the artificial pearls - "pearl essence" - was made from fish scales.

In the last century, a new way of creating artificial pearls was invented: multiple varnishing of a spherical nucleus.

But the most widespread and well-known fake is the "majorica" ​​pearls. These pearls are made by applying many thinnest nacreous layers to the base - an alabaster ball.

Majorica pearls are the most famous cultured pearls produced on the island of Mallorca since the early 19th century. This high quality imitation can only be distinguished from a natural gem by a specialist.

Spanish jewelers were able to develop a pearl-making technology similar to natural. Each pearl in the process of processing goes through 25 stages of control before being called a full-fledged jewelry.

A large number of gemologists believe that certain indicators of this artificial pearl are higher than that of natural pearls, for example, its resistance to external influences and strength.

Only natural organic marine ingredients are used in the production of this high quality imitation. This is why Mallorca has the brilliance and radiance that only true gems can have.

Pearls: medicinal and magical properties of the stone, its meaning

In India, pearls are considered a symbol of well-being and prosperity, in Europe - longevity. The pearl is the personification of perfection and incorruptibility. China considers pearls to be a symbol of magical power and fertility, Greece - a symbol of marriage.

In many countries there is a belief that pearls promote longevity and protect against many diseases. Contemplation of a gem will calm the psyche, bring peace and spiritual harmony.

Pearls warn of the wearer's illness by losing their luster. The gem can get rid of the torment of unrequited love. A ring with a mineral protects the owner from dishonest deals and thieves, protects from the evil eye.

The healing properties of the mineral include the ability to restore memory, stabilize the nervous system in case of its weakness or disorder. Pearls can help treat liver, kidney, and hypertension. It helps with various eye diseases.

Pearls in powder or tincture form are an excellent styptic.

To obtain pearl water, it is necessary to leave the pearls in a carafe of water overnight.

Pearls and zodiac signs. A little about compatibility

The pearl talisman will help you calm down and will have a beneficial effect on blood pressure. This gem will help a Cancer woman to more strongly express her feelings and open up to loved ones.

Mother of pearl - description of the stone and its properties Agate - properties of stone Coral - sea polyp
Sapphire - properties of a stone

Our planet is simply replete with a variety of unusually beautiful and luxurious precious stones. But pearls have received special attention. The properties of the stone, its origin, aroused interest even in antiquity. People believed that it was pearls that possessed powerful energy, healing power and inexplicable power. However, more about everything in our article.

A few words about the origin of the name

Where did the name "pearl" come from? The stone, the properties of which we will consider a little below, were first discovered by the Arabs. Therefore, the name came precisely from the Arabic word "zenchug". This is what determined the Russian name "pearl". The properties of the stone made it possible even in those days to use it for healing and magical purposes. It used to be believed that if you use a cocktail of buffalo milk and crushed pearls, you can master the gift of clairvoyance.

The origin of the stone

The stone forms in the shells of mussels and oysters. Most often, the pearls are mothers of the pinctad oyster shells, which live in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The clam is only 130 mm in size. To date, the catch of Pinctada oysters is limited due to the depletion of natural pearl populations.

The color of the stone is not only white, but also black, pink, green, red, yellow and blue. The average age ranges from 120 to 150 years.

1. The first mention of decoration made of this stone dates back to the 2nd century AD. NS.
2. The oldest pearl jewelry is the Susa necklace, found in 1901.
3. The bronze figurine of Aphrodite herself was adorned with gold earrings, inside of which were adorned with small pearls.
4. The oldest and surviving stone belonged to the American actress Elizabeth Taylor.
5. The largest pearl in the world is considered the "Pearl of Allah". It was taken from a giant oyster weighing 300 kg. It is the same size as a coconut and weighs about 6.5 kg. The man who found the giant oyster died. She pinched his hand, which prevented the diver from getting to the surface.
6. Pearls are considered the stone of believers. In Ancient Russia, icons, frescoes, crosses and many others were decorated with them. dr.

The magical properties of pearls

In China, it was believed that pearls were considered the main ingredient of the elixir of youth. The stone, whose properties are multifaceted, was revered in Mongolia as well. They believed that pearls were a symbol of power. The Indians, however, argued that this beautiful stone patronizes family and love, and also gives well-being and prosperity.

The ancient Egyptians were sure that pearls were the symbol of longevity and beauty. The magical properties of the stone were useful to Cleopatra herself. Few people know that the Egyptian queen was a fan of pearl jewelry. Cleopatra's maids regularly prepared a drink for her, consisting of crushed pearls (soaked in vinegar) and pomegranate juice. The queen considered this cocktail a real elixir of youth and beauty.

In the Bible, pearls were also considered a symbol of wisdom and restraint. The stone, whose properties are invaluable in all respects, is mentioned in the famous phrase of Jesus Christ: "Do not give holy things to dogs and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, so that they do not trample it under their feet and, turning, do not tear you to pieces." (Bible, Matthew 7: 6). With this statement, the Savior wanted to say that there is no need to argue and conflict with those who do not believe and are stubborn.

In medieval times, it was pearls that were considered a symbol of a successful family life. The magical properties of the stone made it possible to protect the bride from lustful thoughts and betrayal. It was believed that such a gift could not be redistributed or inherited, otherwise it could bring trouble to the former owner and the present owner of the stone.

This stone does not tolerate those who are weak in spirit and insecure. In this case, he can "take advantage" of this and take over the thoughts and feelings of these people. Greedy, greedy, deceitful and proud people “do not like” pearls. The stone will try its best to break these qualities.

What else can you tell about pearls? The properties of the stone allow you to endow your owner with wisdom and chastity, help avoid conflict situations and find a common language with people.

Here he is so proud and mysterious - pearls. We have already examined the meaning of the stone, magical properties, and the origin of the name. It's time to talk about the medicinal properties of pearls.

Place in medicine

Few people know that pearls are found in many medicines. Japan, for example, today revered this wonderful stone as a healing agent.

Even in ancient times, blood was purified and thinned with the help of pearls. Also, the powder from this stone made it possible to instantly stop the bleeding.

Pearls are also considered a very good remedy for cores. Many argue that holding the pearl in your mouth for a while can stop the arrhythmia.

Pearls were also famous in dentistry. In ancient times, its powder was used to clean and whiten teeth.

Pearls are also effective for poisoning, fever, asthma, epilepsy, eczema, various inflammations, diseases of bone tissues, diseases of the bladder, urinary tract and liver.

Pink pearls are reputed to be a good medicine for allergies.

This healing stone will also help your eyes. It will relieve the organs of vision from fatigue, remove excess moisture and protect from night blindness.

Today, it is believed that pearls can prolong youth, which is why they are the main ingredient in many anti-aging products.

In ancient China, pearls were one of the main ingredients in the preparation of the elixir of immortality.

Indians drink pearl infused drink in the morning to boost immunity.

Pearls (stone): properties. How to wear?

It is not recommended to wear jewelry made of this stone for people whose work is related to children, creative activities, as well as travelers.

Few people know that pearls are also called “widow's stones”, so young girls and married women should not wear them. He can provoke the death of a husband or lover. On the other hand, pearls will help widows find their soul mate.

There is no need to wear this stone for male ladies' man, because it is a symbol of love, devotion and fidelity.

Pearls (stone): properties. Who is it suitable for?

Pearls are considered an unlucky jewel, as they contain the negative power of the Moon. For many, he brings tears, loss of hopes and illusions. But there are those whom the stone favors and brings only good luck.

The only zodiac sign that pearls are suitable for is Pisces. It promotes prosperity and longevity, brings happiness, protects from unrequited love, protects from the evil eye, endows its owner with the ability to foresee, protects from unsuccessful deals and thieves. Pearls immensely "love" their owner. It is believed that with his death, the pearl tarnishes and dies with him.

"Tears of longing" - this is the name of a piece of jewelry containing pearls. The stone properties for Virgo, Taurus, Capricorn are more destructive than positive. After all, these signs belong to the elements of the Earth, and, as the stars say, pearls are contraindicated in this case.

A few words about black pearls

Black pearls, a stone whose properties are not known to everyone, was revered in ancient times and was a symbol of belonging to high society.

The Chinese believed that black pearls gave wisdom and chastity, protected from the "evil eye", helped scare off thieves and warn against rash acts.

There is a belief that a person who has this beautiful stone interacts with it energetically. Black pearls - a stone, the magical properties of which are incomparable with anything - protects its owner from harm, and he, in turn, cherishes and preserves his beauty. As soon as the stone gets to another owner, he immediately loses his strength and power.

Rumor has it that black pearls can lose their love and trust in the owner. And as soon as the owner crosses the line, which is contrary to the morality of life, the stone can crumble.

What else can black pearls tell about themselves? The properties of the stone allow you to prolong life, heal from various diseases, protect from enemies and bring good luck in all endeavors.

For women, this stone will bring wisdom, sexuality, sensitivity and happiness. For men, the situation is reversed. In this case, black pearls will only bring disappointment, unhappiness and failure.

In ancient times, black pearls were the symbol of health and healing power. The stone, the properties of which are not only positive, had the ability to increase the tone of the body, rejuvenate it and increase resistance to diseases.

It is believed that black pearls like no other can heal ailments of the bone system, fractures and epilepsy.

Conclusion

I would like to believe that this beautiful stone will not bring grief to anyone, because its brilliant appearance denies all negative consequences.

Pearl structure. A pearl consists of a core, a body and a shell. The core is at least one fifth of the pearl. Sometimes it is absent, then its location is guessed by the whitening in the center of the pearl, caused by the appearance of pelitomorphic aragonite. Rarely is there a void in the place of the nucleus. The nucleus does not affect the quality of the pearl, its role is purely genetic: the growth of the pearl begins from it. Foreign bodies can be found in the core. These are minerals that accidentally fell into the shell, and clots of organic matter deposited as a result of pathological changes in the body of the mollusk.

Minerals are represented by grains of plagioclase, quartz, particles of kaolinite and mica plates. The accumulations of organic matter are round or irregular. Sometimes such an accumulation takes up about half of the pearl's cross-section. In the center it is lighter, at the edges of a dirty brown color, soft. Round clusters usually do not contain any impurities, irregular ones often contain flocculent particles of aragonite.

The core of the pearl is often surrounded by a thin layer of organic matter, which stands out well in its dark color against the gray background of aragonite crystals. The bulk of the pearl grows directly on it. It consists of prismatic (columnar) crystals of aragonite, which are separated by thin organic layers. The organic matter imparts a brownish tint to the entire pearl.

Prismatic crystals of aragonite have four-, five-, six-, seven- and octagonal sections. The study of the cross section made it possible to distinguish crystals of three types and intergrowths. Crystals of the first type are few in number; their cross sections are four- and hexagonal. The faceting involves prism planes (010) (first type of crystals), (010) and pinacoid (100) (second type). Crystals of the second type prevail. The main (habit) prism in all crystals is a prism (HO), the pinacoid (100) always has a subordinate value. Crystals of the first type were apparently formed earlier than others. In comparison with the subsequent segregations of aragonite, their faces are the most even. Crystals of the second type have an irregular polygonal cross-section; their faces are usually slightly concave or curved. These are essentially curved crystalline formations. The crystalline formations of aragonite of the third type are even more curved. For this reason, the definition of faces in them is very difficult. Each crystal of aragonite grows on a conchiolinic (organic) base and in a conchiolinic sheath.

Examination of sections of prismatic crystals in their root part suggests the existence of two differences of conchiolin: one to some extent predetermines the shape of the future aragonite crystal, the other, surrounding the crystal with a kind of cover, ensures its growth. It also protects the crystals from sticking together.

In aragonite of freshwater pearls, in areas where there is a lot of conchiolin, sometimes another type of crystals can be traced. By analogy with the formations known in mineralogy, this aragonite should be called skeletal. In cross sections, it is revealed due to narrow, two- and three-sided stripes, which repeat the outlines of the aragonite crystal located near it. The framework of skeletal formations is usually broken.

Prismatic crystals determine the pearl's radiant-shell structure. It is the result of seasonal deposition of calcium carbonate by a mollusc that is sensitive to the slightest changes in the external environment. The described layering is close to the layering of "cave" pearls, in which the age can be determined by the number of layers and their width. However, in relation to pearls, this is hardly acceptable; the shellfish in which the pearls are formed reacts not only to seasonal but also to other changes in the environment.

Prismatic aragonite crystals grow on a thin layer of organic matter and, as it were, serve as a natural continuation of the previous prismatic layer. Towards the periphery of the pearl, the amount of organic matter in it usually decreases. Such pearls are slightly translucent. In pearls, where the organic layers are very thin, the prismatic crystal of aragonite can be traced along its entire length. With a noticeable thickness of the layers of organic matter, the aragonite prisms are clearly separated from one another, their orientation becomes different.

The color intensity of many pearls depends on the amount of organic matter covering the ends of the prismatic crystals. Its significant areal distribution determines the brown color of the pearls. The shell as such is absent in such pearls. The tops of aragonite crystals are clearly visible on the surface, many of them are rounded. This suggests the presence of small faces at the crystal tops, which, unfortunately, have not been studied at all. The nature of the irregular white spots visible in the depths of brown pearls has not been investigated either.

Lamellar layers of aragonite grow on the prismatic layers, which determine the pearlescent luster of pearls. Sometimes they have folded not only a shell, but also a whole pearl. Such pearls are slightly translucent. Plates (they can be called crystals) often have a hexagonal shape, less often there are quadrangular and pentagonal, irregular. Their size is from 3 to 30 microns in diameter, thickness is up to 2.2 microns. The thickness of the mother-of-pearl shell is 0.5 mm. As in the nacreous layer of the shell, the aragonite plates in pearls are oriented with their main axis perpendicular to the growth surface, i.e., the picanoid (001) face of the plates is parallel to the plane of the layers.

Like the crystals of the prismatic layer, the lamellar crystals of aragonite are enclosed in conchiolin capsule sheaths. By means of them and thin pads of organic matter, the plates are separated from each other. The same substance holds the aragonite plates together into a compact mineral-organic aggregate.

Lamellar layers often occupy only part of the pearl surface, while prismatic layers are exposed in other areas. To this it should be added that sometimes we are talking not so much about layers as about beads and even films of mother-of-pearl, easily cleaned with a steel needle from the surface of the pearl.

The study of the structure of the lamellar layers of white (gem) and gray pearls, carried out by the geologist A. A. Korago, showed that the first is characterized by a high degree of homogeneity. It manifests itself in the same size and thickness of the aragonite plates secreted by the mollusk and the films of organic matter that adhere them. The shell of gray pearls is composed of aragonite plates, the size and thickness of which vary widely. The thickness of the layers of organic matter is extremely variable. Both pearls also differ significantly in their surface (simple in a gem and complex in gray), the nature of which depends on the location of the lamellar crystals in the shells.

River pearls are mainly composed of layers of prismatic aragonite crystals. The lamellar (nacreous) layer on them has a small thickness. Apparently, therefore, such pearls shimmer with pale moonlight.

Sea pearls and freshwater pearls differ somewhat in structure. Precious sea pearls are composed of layers of lamellar crystals of aragonite, they do not have prismatic crystals. However, the structure of pearls from mussel shells does not obey this rule. The pearls caught in the Feodosiya Bay are not composed mainly of lamellar layers, but of prismatic aragonite crystals, gray in the center and white in the periphery. The layers are separated by thin strips of organic matter. The width of the concentrates - hundredths - thousandths of a millimeter.

A detailed study of the Black Sea pearls was carried out by E. F. Shnyukov and D. P. Demenko. With the help of electron microscopic studies, they identified crystals of calcite and hydromica in the core of pearls and for the first time recorded a layer of loose collomorphic aragonite in the structure of pearls. This layer is penetrated by numerous pores directed from the periphery to the center. The pores branch out and, according to the researchers, are important channels in the pearl. In individual pearls, not one, but two collomorphic layers are developed, well separated from each other. However, in this case, there are no pores in both layers.

The surface of the collomorphic layer is covered with lamellar crystals of aragonite. Where the collomorphic layer is absent, the pearl is entirely composed of aragonite plates with a cross section of 3-4 microns. The surface of the plates is dotted with numerous tubercles, spherical formations, and occasionally permeated with pores. The cleavage of the laminae is shelllike. Shnyukov and Demenko found elongated prismatic fibers 0.2-2.0 in length and 0.04-0.1 microns thick on a transverse cleavage after etching with a weak solution of alkali NaOH. The fibers are oriented mainly perpendicular to the surface of the plates. On the prismatic edges of the fibers, transverse growth strokes are noticeable.

The quality of pearls is determined by four characteristics: luster, color, shape and size. The main feature is gloss, and then color.

Shine. Pearls must have a play of color, light (sparkle) and brilliance, without which they are of no value. The beauty of pearls is not only in color, but also in overflows, depending on the degree of transparency of the aragonite layers and on the reflection of light from them. This phenomenon, called orient, is a consequence of two optical effects: the interference of light reflected from sequentially overlapping transparent aragonite plates, and the diffraction of light when it passes through the crystal lattice of aragonite layers in the places where the latter meet the uneven surface of the pearl. The first effect is more permanent and ranges from subtle flicker to aurora-like flashes. Jewelers compare this effect with the “fire” of a diamond, and when describing the brilliance of pearls, as when describing a diamond, they speak of the “water” of pearls. Pearls with a strong play of color are called fiery; they are extremely rare and highly prized.

Pearls of "pure (or first) water" are required, first of all, to play: they must be colorless or pure white, have a strong luster with a "weak blue tint, turning into iridescent. A flawless pearl of "pure water" has a delicate milky-white, light-silvery sheen that shines with all the colors of the rainbow when it rotates. These are the most expensive pearls. White pearls with a yellowish or bluish tint do not shine through to the entire depth of the mother-of-pearl layer. Therefore, their shine is not as strong as that of colorless pearls - very soft, slightly velvety. He is the main charm of most commercial pearls. Pearls caught in the waters of the Persian and Manar Gulfs are characterized by the greatest luster with a beautiful mother-of-pearl tint.

Pearls that lack orient are unattractive. They form in shells of mollusks that lack the nacreous layer. A classic example of such a pearl is the famous "Pearl of Allah" weighing 6.35 kg, extracted from a huge tridacna. The well-known 16 grain pinna pearl (1 grain = 50 mg) has a dull, dark brown color. The inner surface of the shell, in which it was placed, has the same color. Many other pearls are also deprived of orientation. They, as a rule, are of no value, although at times there is a demand for them. There is no orientation in black pearls, but they attract with an extraordinary glare - a light speck of reflected light. These pearls are highly prized. Their luster is close to metallic. As already noted, pearls with a beautiful luster are formed in shells with a developed nacreous layer. However, this rule is not always observed: the intensity of pearl luster often depends on where the embryo of the future pearl falls into. If the embryo is located in the place of the mantle where a beautiful nacre layer stands out, then high quality nacre is formed on the pearl as well. This is how the pearls of "beautiful water" are formed in the terminology of the English jeweler H. Smith. In the middle of the muscular edge of the mantle, the pearls are brownish, without luster, often with whitish streaks that spoil their appearance. Pearls that form in the outer (dark) edge of the mollusk's mantle are lusterless. The further from this edge of the pearl, the lighter they are and the higher their gem quality. Immediately above the hinge, both brown pearls, which have almost no luster, and white, shiny ones are formed.

Colour. The finest pearls are believed to have no color of their own. Due to their transparency, they acquire a soft silvery shine, barely shimmering with the colors of a rainbow, and become pearls of the purest water. However, pearls are white, pink, blue, bluish, purple, golden, yellow, bronze, gray, brown, reddish, brown, black, rarely greenish, but more often yellowish or grayish with a bluish tint and a characteristic pearlescent sheen. All colors except black are weak. The color of pearls is due to the degree of translucency of the nacreous shell and the color of the underlying organic layer. Pearl aragonite is colorless or white, while conchiolin is yellowish, and in relatively thick layers brown to black. Impurities of chemical elements in the water, where pearl-bearing mollusks live, have a significant effect on the color of pearls.) Therefore, pearls from different reservoirs sometimes differ noticeably in color. Those caught in the waters of the Persian Gulf have a creamy hue. The pale pink color is typical of pearls from Sri Lanka. Australian pearls are white and silver-white, Mexican pearls are reddish-brown and black, Indian pearls are bright pink with wavy lines, and Japanese pearls with a greenish tint. An unusually beautiful golden color is inherent in Australian shellfish pearls. In some cases, the color of the pearl also depends on its position in the body of the mollusc.

Black pearls are unique. It has been known as a precious piece of jewelry for a long time. In Homer's Odyssey, Penelope receives a pair of pearls "as if woven from mulberry berries." Absolutely round black (no streaks) pearls are very rare. Compared to light-colored pearls, they contain more conchiolin. For a long time, the Baia region in the eastern part of the Gulf of California was world famous. Black pearls with a characteristic metallic luster were caught here. The pearls had a special name "La Paz" or "Panama". The most expensive ones weighed 372 grains.

Freshwater pearls are no less varied in color. So, in the reservoirs of the North-West of the USSR, white, gray, greenish, brown, black and combined are found. White pearls are rich in shades: pinkish, golden, bluish, silvery, grayish, lilac. Such pearls have a mother-of-pearl shine and sparkle and are of gem quality in terms of quality. White pearls account for about a quarter of all found pearls, gray about a third. Gray pearls do not have luster and sparkle, do not shine through. In addition, they often have a greenish, beige or brownish tint. Greenish pearls are few in number and, as a rule, small (3-4 mm). Black pearls are very rare. Like gray, it does not shine through, is devoid of shine and sparkle, and this significantly differs from the famous black pearls of the southern seas. However, earlier black pearls with a characteristic bluish tint were found in the rivers of the Kola Peninsula. Norwegian queens wore necklaces from such "Hyperborean" pearls.

A large group consists of pearls of a combined color: white with gray stripes, brown with a gray belt, or gray with a white (and brown) "crown". Many pearls seem to consist of two halves, one of which is characterized by gem-quality properties, while the other, gray or brown, does not.

Karelian pearls are generally silvery-white, sometimes with a bluish tint, pink, less often black with a steel-bluish tint. In the rivers of the Arkhangelsk region, together with silver-white pearls, they caught red-white, red with blue and gray pearls the size of a pea.

Pearl color is influenced by the degree of maturity. M.V. Lomonosov wrote about this when he examined pearls collected by S.P. Krasheninnikov in Kamchatka. Unripe pearls are greenish, brownish, yellowish, blue. One side of the pearl is white, the other is blue or yellow. Often pearls, when removed from the shell, have a greenish tint and only turn white as they dry.

The nature of the coloration of pearls (and shells) is not well understood. It was noted above that the color of pearls depends mainly on the color of the organic matter in it and on the admixture of various chemical elements in seawater. Quite expensive, pink pearls grow in seawater containing elevated amounts of manganese. Seawater enriched with various chemical elements on pearl plantations produces blue, green, orange and even purple pearls. The reason for the coloration of black pearls is unclear. Apparently, it is associated with the characteristics of the water in the Gulf of California and other areas.

The color is influenced by the porosity and specific surface of pearls, the structure of the seabed, the speed of underwater currents, the temperature of the water, the genus of the pearl mussel and the color of its shell, the place where the pearl is located in the body of the mollusk. But the main color factors are the type of mollusk and the admixture of chemical elements in the water. It is from their interaction that a rich color range of pearls is born. Cultured white pearls have at least 26 shades - from dazzling white to pink and greenish. Japanese and French specialists have achieved significant success in growing multi-colored pearls.

It is believed that the color of pearls should be close to the skin color of the wearer, therefore the peoples of different countries wear pearls of different colors. In Europe, preference is given to snow-white or white with a slight bluish tint, in the East and in southern countries - yellowish or brownish pearls.

The form. Pearls, as already mentioned, are a kind of mineral-organic aggregate. Its emergence and growth do not obey the laws of the interaction of atoms, but the biochemical laws of the development of a living cell in the body of a mollusk. Therefore, pearls can have a wide variety of shapes. Even medieval authors identified up to 12 of its varieties. The shape of the pearl depends mainly on the place where a foreign body - the embryo of the future pearl - gets under the shells of the shell. Pearls are round, oval (ovoid), oblong (cylindrical), pear-shaped, drop-shaped hemispherical (button-shaped), irregular (baroque).

The most perfect, round pearls form in those parts of the mollusc where the mantle is thick enough. In river pearls of the best quality, pearls are born in the mantle near the castle; they are almost colorless, small in size. They are usually referred to as the "dewdrop" type. If a pearl appears near the shell wall or adjoins (grows) to it, then the so-called shell pearl is formed. It can be of two kinds: "bubbly" or "bud", sometimes containing a foreign substance - water or silt, and solid - blister-pearls. When a grain of sand is introduced into the muscle-closure, the resulting pearl acquires a pear-shaped and tear-shaped shape or has a rather bizarre shape. Near the hinge edge of the shell, often above the hinge, narrow pearls with pointed ends are formed, often fused together.

The dependence of the shape, color, and luster of a pearl on its position in the shell has not yet been adequately studied. Until now, science has not been able to satisfactorily answer the question: why pearls of different quality are formed in the same tissues of a mollusk? Meanwhile, such knowledge is extremely necessary when carrying out work related to the cultivation of pearls.

In Russia, the division of pearls by shape came into practice as early as the 16th century. Regular spherical pearls with a thick nacreous layer of white and silver color, which "rolls on a saucer, does not stand still", were called "pitched", "round". The further the pearl rolls and spins, the more ideal its shape and the higher the cost. In old Russian epics and fairy tales, such pearls are mentioned very often. Ilya Muromets, in order to appease the evil Tsar Kalin, brings him "the first misa of pure silver and another red of gold, the third of pitched pearls." The inhabitants of the Russian North called round freshwater pearls "skaten". Clothes were embroidered with pitched pearls. It was presented to the rulers of foreign states.

Round pearls, the size of a pea or dragee, were called "kargopolochki", and weighing less than 0.25 grains - "family". Their surface is smooth, shiny or slightly rough. Round unrolled pearls in Russia were called mushroom.

Oval pearls are rounded at the ends. Its surface is uneven, rough, with projections of different sizes. Large (over 6 mm) oval pearls in Russia were called pearl cucumbers. They were highly valued.

Elongated pearls sometimes look like a small cylinder, which is why they are called cylindrical. Pear-shaped and teardrop-shaped pearls are rare in the rivers of the European North. Hemispherical (button-shaped) pearls with a rounded top and a flat base, reminiscent of miniature loaves of bread, are more common; they are also called dies. Hemispherical pearls are smooth, shiny, sometimes with dark and light specks.

The wrong pearl has the most varied, sometimes very bizarre shape. Such pearls in Russia were nicknamed "ugly", "charcoal", "horned". Since the XVI century. it has a special name - "baroque".

Along with the best examples of river pearls, sea pearls were also famous, especially round, pear-shaped and teardrop-shaped pearls. So, the perfectly round well-known pearl "Pilgrimka". The famous pearl "Perigrina" has the correct pear-shaped shape, and the "Pearl of Hope" has a teardrop shape. These shapes are exceptionally good in pendants and earrings and are therefore highly prized. Wonderful examples of pear-shaped and round pearls are kept in the Diamond Fund of the USSR.

A fairly large group is made up of sea pearls, shaped like the silhouettes of various animals or objects: the back of a frog, the head of a horse, the wings of a bird, a dog's tooth, or even the body of a person and even his facial features. Such pearls are called paragons; miraculous properties have long been attributed to them. Paragons are set in gold and adorned with precious stones. Beautiful paragons are kept in the State Hermitage.

In addition to individual pearls, their aggregates are occasionally found. A classic example of this phenomenon is the "Southern Cross" - nine round cross-shaped pearls, 4 cm long. It was found in an oyster caught in 1874 off the east coast of Australia. Hemispherical river pearls grow together with their flat bases. In the place of fusion, a belt of pearls of a later formation is often found.

The size. Pearls are of different sizes. Tiny pearls as small as tenths of a millimeter are called pearl dust. They are of very limited use. Large pearls are rare. By size - the mass of one grain - pearls are divided into three groups: no more than 50 mg; 51 to 200 mg; from 201 mg or more. Pearls of the second group are more common, and among them - 0.3-0.6 cm in diameter.

The division of pearls into "large", "medium" and "small" was known in Russia as early as the 17th century. In official documents and literature, they wrote mainly about the great pearls. For example, in the Mineralogical Dictionary, published in 1790, large pearls, which “are in size against cherries”, were called “cherry”. The "Olonets statistical collection" for 1902 reported that in 1871 11 unusually large blue and pink pearls were sent from the Olonets province to the royal court. The wife of the Ural breeder T. N. Demidova wore a four-row necklace of pearls the size of a hazelnut.

At one time, the best pearls in color, shape and size were mined near the city of Kem on the White Sea. Even on the city's coat of arms, a wreath of pearls was depicted against a background of blue water.

Like famous gems, pearls of rare beauty are called by their own names. As a rule, they are kept in state treasuries. Some of them have a history of hundreds of years, full of amazing adventures and dramatic events. An interesting story is the "Pearl of Allah" - the largest in the world. It was caught in 1934 in the South China Sea off the island of Palawan (Philippines). The weight of the pearl is 6.35 kg, the length is 24 cm, the diameter is almost 14 cm. In appearance, it resembled the head of a Mohammedan in a turban and therefore was called the “Pearl of Allah”.

They say that the son of a Filipino chief loved to get corals and molluscs with beautiful shells from the bottom of the sea. But one day the boy disappeared under water and did not rise to the surface for a long time. Divers who descended to the bottom of the sea found him dead. The youth's left hand was tightly gripped by the doors of a huge tridacna. The corpse of the young man and the tridacna holding it were taken to the shore. The tridacna was opened with a crowbar. Imagine the surprise of those present when they saw in the middle of the mollusk a giant wrinkled, lobed, dimly shining pearl. The deceased's fellow tribesmen attributed magical power to this pearl. Over time, it was presented to the doctor who saved the life of the second son of the Filipino leader, then New York jewelers became its owners. The “Pearl of Allah”, however, does not represent any value, since it is devoid of pearl shine.

In the XVI century. The pearls from the dowry of the French queen Catherine de Medici were considered the best in Europe. After her marriage, she presented them to the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart. Subsequently, the pearls became the property of the English Queen Elizabeth I.

In 1579, the Spanish king Philip II became the owner of the wonderful white pearl "Perigrina", brought from the island of Margarita in the Caribbean. The island was named so because of the abundance of pearl shells on it ("Margarita" in Latin - pearls). The pearl has a perfect pear-shape and a very beautiful pearlescent luster. Its size is about the size of a pigeon's egg (length 3 cm, width about 2 cm, weight 252 grains). For "Perigrine" the king paid 100 thousand francs. The writer S. Zweig says that "Perigrina" was found off the coast of Panama by a slave negro who got freedom for her from the Spanish conquistador Nunez Bilbao. Once in the treasury of the Spanish king Philip II, "Perigrine" was then donated to the Queen of England, Mary Tudor. After the death of the queen, the pearl returned to Spain, from where it was taken out in 1813 by King Joseph Bonaparte. At one time "Perigrine" was owned by the King of Holland Louis Bonaparte. Later, the pearl was sold to the English Lord Hamilton, in whose family it was kept for a long time. Currently "Perigrina" is located in Spain.

In 1886, the aforementioned "Southern Cross" was demonstrated at the Indian exhibition in London. In 1889, at an exhibition in Paris, this unique pearl ensemble was awarded a gold medal. One of the rare black pearls was found in 1904 off the coast of Mexico by the Indian Buenaventura Gilles. The pearl was named "Rekya Asteki" - "Queen of the Aztecs". The following story is told about her and the fate of the Indian who found her. Buenaventura sold the pearl and immediately became rich. With the money he had acquired, he could live peacefully for the rest of his life. But the Indian dreamed of sure to find a pair of "Queen", he even came up with the name "El Rey Montezuma" - "King of Montezuma" (named after the king of the Aztecs). All day long the Indian was looking for a beautiful pearl, which, alas, existed only in his imagination. He worked in solitude, without a partner. The great physical stress did not pass without a trace: once Buenaventura plunged into the water and did not surface. After several days the waves washed ashore his empty boat.

In 1917, a pearl the size of a passerine egg, weighing 200 grains, was found off the coast of Australia. It was valued at £ 14,000. Art. and was named the "Star of the West".

Large pearls are stored in the depositories of various states. In England there is a drop-shaped pearl weighing 2454 grains called "The Pearl of Hope". Two pearls weighing 1,800 and 320 grains are on display at the Geological Museum and the British National Museum in London.

The treasury of the French crown in 1781 contained more than a million francs of pearls; among them was one in the shape of a pear weighing 228 grains, estimated at 300 thousand francs. The royal house also owned the "Regent" pearl of "excellent water and play" and the size of a pigeon's egg, weighing 345 grains. Four hundred pearls of the highest class, weighing no less than 320 grains each, were owned by the French Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III.

Unheard of beauty, judging by the description made in 1818, possessed the pearl "Pilgrimka", or "Wanderer", from the treasury of the Russian state, found off the coast of India. Its weight is 112 grains, the color is white, the shape is perfectly spherical. The pearl was perfectly round.

Several other large pearls are known in the world: "Khone", "Shah-Safi", "Queen of Pearls". Their weight in grains is 1888, 513, 113, respectively.

Since ancient times, pearls have been highly valued. In ancient Russian poetry, the word "pearl" itself meant "precious", "beyond praise." At all times, the best pearls were considered pitched pearls, with a thick nacreous layer, completely spherical, white or silvery-white, with light iridescent tints. It is followed by black, mauve, cream and gold in value. Less valuable are blue, greenish, brown, brown, orange and yellow pearls. So, in the Novgorod trade book when buying pearls in other countries, there were such recommendations: “Buy pearls all white, clean, but don't buy yellow, nobody will buy it in Russia”. Gray pearls have no price at all, although sometimes there is a demand for them. The most valuable oriental pearls are white or pink.

The shape of pearls strongly influences the cost of pearls: the most expensive are regular spherical pearls, then pear-shaped and oval. The larger the pearl and the more perfect its shape, the higher its price. Under Peter I, a large pearl cost 100 rubles. per spool (4.26 g). Selling two or three pearls the size of a pea could keep the pearl family alive for a year. Two large pear-shaped pearls of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra were estimated at 5.5 million rubles. A large pearl in New York still costs about $ 500 thousand. Large pearls are sold per piece, the weight is determined in grains or carats (1 carat = 4 grains). Small pearls are sold by weight, taking into account the quality of the pearls and how much per ounce (about 30 g).

The high cost of natural pearls is explained not only by their rarity, but also by the danger and difficulty associated with obtaining this gem from the depths of the sea. The price of cultured pearls was initially 0.2 of the price of natural sea pearls, and later dropped to 0.1. Currently, all cultured pearls are sold for 90 rubles. for 1 year

Pearls are evaluated in three grades. The first class includes perfectly round white pearls with a strong luster, faint pinkish or bluish tint. Flawless teardrop pearls are as expensive as round pearls. The second class includes not quite large pear-shaped or flattened pearls, white with a strong luster, as well as perfectly round white pearls with a low luster. The third class includes all low-luster pearls that can at least partially be used to make jewelry.

The price of pearls increases in proportion to the square of their mass. Therefore, a pearl with a mass of 2 grains, with other things being equal, is 4 times more expensive than a pearl of 1 grain.

Few pearls stand the meticulous test of class. But if they stand up and are evaluated with the highest score, then their cost becomes fabulous. It is not surprising, therefore, that large and beautiful pearls, along with diamonds, emeralds and rubies, are included in the register of currency values ​​of the state, they are subject to a currency monopoly regime.

Hardness. Pearl quite hard and durable, but scratches easily. The hardness of river jewelry and sea pearls was investigated. The data obtained were compared with the hardness of ordinary aragonite.

The gem pearl is slightly oval. In the largest section it is 2.9 mm. It consists of two zones: a wider inner one, composed of prismatic radial-fibrous aggregates of aragonite crystals, and a narrow outer (0.5 mm), formed by lamellar layers of this mineral. The nucleus in the pearl is not expressed. Prismatic brown aragonite, lamellar - light gray, white. The surface of the pearl is pale pink with a good pearlescent luster. Shines through to depth.

The sea pearl is elliptical, with a slightly uneven, wavy surface. Its dimensions are 4X3.5 mm. It is characterized by a vaguely pronounced radial-fibrous and concentric-layered structure. It is composed of prismatic crystals of aragonite. Width - hundredths-thousandths of a millimeter.

Aragonite is represented by short- and long-prism (from 2 to 18 mm) crystals and their twins (tees) with habit facets of a prism (110) and pinacoid (001) and a slightly developed prism (010). The edges of most individuals and intergrowths are smooth, shiny, allowing hardness determination without preliminary grinding and polishing

The hardness of aragonite pearls and "earthly" aragonite was determined by geologist VB Stepanov at a load of 20 g, the load was maintained for 10 s. In the river pearl, the hardness of the inner (prismatic) zones and the outer shell, consisting of thin aragonite plates, was measured, in the sea pearl - over the entire cross section of the sample. The hardness of aragonite was measured on the faces of the (110) prism (along the with) and pinacoid (001). On each pearl and facet of the aragonite crystal, 50 imprints of a diamond pyramid were applied.

The range of values ​​of hardness and average hardness of pearls is greatest in the inner (prismatic) zone of a river pearl. The average hardness of aragonite prisms (206.56 kg / mm 2) is almost 2 times that of the plates of the mother-of-pearl layer (115.36 kg / mm 2). The pinacoidal facet of the Shorsu aragonite is 2 times harder (266.5 kg / mm kg / mm 2). The lowest hardness (on the edge of the prism) is characteristic of sea pearl aragonite (170.06 kg / mm 2). The latter circumstance, apparently, can explain the shorter durability of sea pearls in comparison with river pearls.

The mechanical properties of pearls (like mother-of-pearl) are determined by the spatial arrangement of prismatic and lamellar crystals of aragonite, combined into a compact mineral-organic aggregate by means of organic matter. In the direction parallel to the arrangement of the aragonite crystals, such properties (including hardness) will be different than in the direction perpendicular to this direction. The elastic properties of freshwater pearls are higher than those of sea pearls.

Density. Pearls are aggregates of variable composition, so their density varies greatly. It consists of the density of aragonite (2.94 g / cm 3), conchiolin (1.34 g / cm 3) and water (1 g / cm 3). Depending on the predominance of one or another component, the density of the pearl increases or decreases.

The results of the study of the density of pearls by various authors are given in table. 1.

Freshwater and saltwater pearls are characterized by similar density values. The upper limit of freshwater and sea pearls is the same and equal to 2.78 g / cm 3, the lower one is different: for freshwater pearls 1.35 g / cm 3, for sea pearls 2.43 g / cm 3. Thus, the range of density values ​​for freshwater pearls is wider. The lowest density is noted for a black freshwater pearl (1.35-1.37 g / cm 3). It is almost the same as conchiolin (1.34 g / cm 3). Apparently, these pearls, according to Corago, are composed mainly of organic matter. The highest density is found in white silver-white gem pearls. Somewhat unexpected is the increase in the density of yellow pearls to such the same limit, as well as whites. Black sea pearls have a higher density (2.75 g / cm 3) compared to the density of black freshwater pearls (1.35-1.37 g / cm 3).

The density of cultured pearls is significant (2.70-2.80 g / cm 3). It should be noted that the upper density limit for black cultured pearls (2.80 g / cm 3) is higher than that of sea and freshwater pearls. Obviously, this difference is due to the different composition of conchiolin. Perhaps the density of pearls also depends on the composition of impurity elements in it, but this issue has not been studied.

Component composition of pearls. In terms of component composition, pearls are similar to the inner layer of the shell - mother-of-pearl. It consists mainly of aragonite (10-95%), organic matter (4.5-85%), water (0.5-4%). On average, pearls contain approximately 86% calcium carbonate, 12% organic matter and 2% water.

The composition of the four pearls is given in table. 2.

The composition of aragonite, which is almost entirely composed of white pearls, has not yet been investigated. As the amount of aragonite in pearls decreases, its color becomes more intense. In brown pearls, calcium oxide is 80%. The rest is organic matter, which pigments the pearls in various shades of brown.

As already mentioned, the organic matter - cophiolin, which holds the aragonite pearls together, is yellow, from light to dark brown. In lamellar layers, organic matter is yellowish or light brown, and in prismatic layers, it is much darker. Obviously, this depends on the different ability of the mineral-organic aggregate to absorb certain coloring pigments from the intercavitary fluid in the body of the mollusk. A series of endothermic effects are found on the thermograms of pearls, recording the temperatures of burnout of organic matter and its different relationship with the mineral component.In black pearls, organic matter contains a small admixture of black pyrite (FeS 2), which is recorded on the thermogram by a sharp exothermic effect at 350 ° C.

Water in pearls is a part of both organic and inorganic components, occupying various pores and cavities in them. It is hygroscopic water. It is fixed by a decrease in the thermal curve at a temperature of about 100 ° C. There is no doubt that the pearls also contain bound water, which is part of the amino acids that make up the organic matter. The total amount of water in pearls can be up to 23%.

Pearls decompose when heated, dissolve slowly in acids.

Amino acid composition of pearl organic matter. Pearls contain 18 amino acids. For comparison, we note that the composition of proteins synthesized by living organisms includes 21 amino acids in different combinations. The basis of the organic matter of freshwater pearls from the reservoirs of the North-West of the USSR, as Corago found out, are glycine and tyrosine, followed by alanine, valine, serum and aspartic acid (Table 3).

The Japanese researcher K. Wada, who studied the composition of organic matter in different layers of the shell of the mollusk Pinctada fucata and cultured pearls, showed that the amino acid composition of individual parts of the pearl and the shell is somewhat different. Different amino acid composition of the organic matter of prismatic and lamellar pearls. In prismatic layers, glycine predominates in lamellar layers - alanine. Tyrosine, which ranks second after glycine in the freshwater and prismatic layers of cultured pearls, is present in small amounts in the lamellar layers of cultured pearls. It is hardly possible to speak of a sharp predominance of any one amino acid in the composition of pearls. This question is very interesting and requires further research.

Composition of chemical elements-impurities in pearls. It has been most fully investigated in pearls from the reservoirs of the North-West of the USSR. According to Corago, it contains the following elements (in%): aluminum (0.008-0.034), barium (0.031-0.083), iron (traces - 0.005), silicon (0.003-0.120), magnesium (0.016-0.120), manganese (0.004-0.400), copper (0.001-0.003), silver (0.0001-0.0029), molybdenum (0.002-0.014), lead (traces - 0.008), strontium (0.1-0.3), antimony (0.01), titanium (0.001-0.003), sodium (0.1-0.3), tin (0.001).

The most stable contents of strontium, titanium, sodium. The number of them in brown, gray and white pearls is the same. Antimony and tin are found in only one brown pearl. The amount of other elements, especially manganese, magnesium and silicon, is variable. Manganese is most abundant in white pearls, in gray pearls it is scarce, and even less in brown ones. Silicon, on the contrary, is more in brown pearls, less in gray and white ones. There is approximately equal proportion of magnesium in white and brown pearls, and somewhat less in gray ones. Almost the same amount of aluminum, barium, iron, copper and molybdenum in all studied pearls. Attention is drawn to the significant content of manganese in white pearls, 8 times higher than that in gray and 30 times in brown pearls. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that manganese is predominantly sorbed by the lamellar (nacreous) layers that make up the white pearls, while the prismatic layers preferentially absorb silver.

Analyzing the content of chemical elements in pearls of various colors, we note the following. Brown pearls are enriched with lithophilic elements, as well as silver and lead. Most gray pearls are closer to white pearls than brown ones in terms of the content of chemical elements. Gray pearls (compared to white ones) contain more barium, silicon, copper, silver and molybdenum, white pearls - less molybdenum, silver and silicon.

Saltwater pearls extracted from the shells of the Black Sea mussel, in comparison with freshwater pearls, contain half the chemical elements. E.F.Shnyukov and D.P.Demenko found in two pearls mined in the Black Sea the following elements (in%): magnesium (1.8-3.8), manganese (<0,0001), медь (0,0001), серебро (0,00001-0,00005), стронций (0,1-0,2), титан (0,0002-0,0005), цирконий (0,001), лантан (0,001-0,002). Последние два элемента найдены только в морских жем­чужинах.

Most of the chemical elements found in pearls are associated with the vital processes of mollusks, in particular with their selective ability to absorb these elements from water. Most of the microelements are found in the amino acid group of humic acids, which are part of organic matter. An essential role in the accumulation of chemical elements in pearls is played by metabolic processes in the cells of the "pearl" sack.

Isotopic composition of pearl carbon. The isotopic composition of the carbon of pearl aragonite carries information about the nature of the solutions from which it was deposited in the body of the mollusk. The quantitative ratio of stable carbon isotopes 12 C and 13 C in carbonates is expressed by the coefficient 6 13 C, which means in ppm the deviation of the 13 C / 12 C ratio of the substance relative to the same ratio in the standard. Table 4. data on the distribution of 6 13 C in pearls from water bodies of the North-West of the USSR are given.

The isotopic composition of pearl carbon varies by 6 13 C from -8.7 to -12, O ° / oo. It fits within the limits characteristic of 6 13 С carbon of freshwater carbonates (6 13 С = -5 / -15.0 ° / oo). From the data obtained, it can be concluded that the formation of pearls occurs with the participation of bicarbonate solutions with different isotopic compositions of carbon. Gray and light brown pearls, consisting mainly of prismatic layers and a thin shell composed of lamellar layers of aragonite crystals, were formed from solutions, the isotopic composition of which changed towards lighter. In this case, the isotopic composition of the carbon of the pearls changed, respectively, in the following sequence: -10.2 and - 10.8 ° / oo (prismatic zone) and -12.0 ° / oo (lamellar zone); - 8.7% o (prismatic zone) and -10.2% o (lamellar zone). The formation of a brown pearl, composed of prismatic aragonite crystals, first occurred from a solution, 6 13 C of which was - 10.5% o, and at the last stages of crystal deposition - from a solution with 6 13 C = - 9.6 ° / oo. That is, the carbon isotopic composition of brown pearls in the process of deposition changed not towards lighter, as in light and light brown pearls, but towards weight. The reasons for this phenomenon need to be investigated. In this regard, the study of the isotopic composition of pearls cannot be considered complete. There is no doubt that many factors influence the 6 13 C carbon value of aragonite pearls. It is not possible to take them into account now.

Oxygen isotopic composition of pearls. The conditions for the formation of pearls and the peculiarities of the development of mollusks are indicated by the ratio of stable oxygen isotopes 16 O and 18 O. It is expressed by the coefficient 6 18 O, which, as in the case of carbon, means the deviation of the value of the ratio 18 O / 16 O relative to the same relationship in the standard. The distribution of the 6 18 O value in pearls from the reservoirs of the North-West of the USSR is evidenced by the following data:

The oxygen isotopic composition of pearls varies by 6 18 O from -8.2 to -20.8% o and falls within the limits characteristic of 6 18 O oxygen of freshwater carbonates. The average value of 6 18 O oxygen of the investigated pearls is 15.8% o and slightly higher than the average 6 18 O of fresh water (-9.11% o). It is very close to 6 18 O water of the Northern Dvina (-15.5% o), while 6 18 O of the main pearl-bearing rivers of the North-West of the USSR (Kem, Varzuga, Umba, Onega), from where pearls were most likely obtained, is equal to - 9.1 / -9.7% o [C. D. Nikolaev, V. I. Nikolaev, 1976]. That is, there is no direct inheritance of the oxygen isotopic composition of river water by the oxygen isotopic composition of pearls. In this case, it is necessary to admit the possibility of biological fractionation of oxygen isotopes, leading to the depletion of pearl aragonite in the "heavy" oxygen isotope 18 O. It is important to emphasize that of the solutions most enriched in this isotope (6 18 O = -8.2% o). a mother-of-pearl layer is formed, giving value to the pearl. The outer layer of a prismatic-layered pearl, on the contrary, crystallizes from a solution with a minimum content of 18 O (6 18 O = -19.4 and -20.8 ° / oo) (6 18 O = -8.2% o) than the nacreous layer of the shell (6 i 8 O = -14.5 ° / oo). The transition of aragonite to calcite almost does not change the oxygen isotopic composition of the initial carbonate.

Porosity. Pearls from the reservoirs of the North-West of the USSR have low porosity. Moreover, the porosity of brown pearls is much higher than that of white and gray. It is believed that only brown pearls have a certain amount of pores, concentrated mainly in the range of equivalent radii of 3-5 nm. The total porosity does not exceed 1% of the sample volume. If we take into account the small size of pearls (first millimeters), then their specific surface area can be considered quite significant for all samples, especially for brown pearls. This is confirmed by the presence of small pores, some of which, as Corago emphasizes, are in the region of equivalent radii less than 3 nm, which cannot be measured with a mercury porometer.

Luminescence (cold glow under the influence of radiation) is one of the important features of a substance. The essence of luminescence is that many minerals placed in the path of X-ray, cathode or ultraviolet rays themselves begin to emit light. Different minerals have different luminescence in strength and color. It is also known that chemically pure substances usually do not emit luminescence. Impurities of other substances in the mineral in amounts from thousandths of a percent to several percent are required to cause its glow. Therefore, depending on the impurities, the same mineral in different deposits glows with different light.

Research into the luminescence of pearls has been going on for a long time. Particular interest in it was manifested in connection with the need to distinguish a grown pearl from a natural one, and a colored (blackened) pearl from an artificially grown one. It turned out that under the influence of X-ray radiation, grown pearls fluoresce more strongly than natural ones. The nacreous core of the grown pearls fluoresces especially strongly. The English researcher B. Anderson explains this by the fact that the core is almost always made from the mother of pearl of a freshwater shell and therefore usually contains a small admixture of manganese salts. When irradiated with X-rays, the core gives off green luminescence and, if the shell is not too thick, transmits the glow to the entire pearl. After the cessation of the action of X-rays, the grown pearls exhibit a short-term phosphorescence. The most intensely luminescent in X-rays, as Anderson notes, is cultured freshwater pearls grown in Japan on Lake Biwa (biwa - pearls).

Japanese researchers G. Komatsu and Sh. Akamatsu found that dyed (blackened) pearls do not fluoresce in ultraviolet rays, while grown pearls in the same rays clearly fluoresce in yellow-red tones.

Freshwater pearls luminesce in much the same way as grown pearls. Corago carried out a detailed study of the luminescence of freshwater pearls from the reservoirs of the North-West of the USSR. He found that the luminescence spectrum of freshwater pearls has a wide band covering the entire visible spectrum range from 360 to 700 nm. The maximum of the spectrum depends on the nature of the pearl. So, in white (jewelry) and gray pearls, it is in the region of 485-495 nm, in brown - in the region of 525 nm. The luminescence spectrum of Japanese cultured pearls is close to the spectrum of domestic freshwater pearls, but it is more intense.

The results of these studies allowed Corago to conclude that the luminescence of pearls is due only to organic matter, which differs in composition in prismatic and lamellar layers. The luminescence intensity depends on the size of the investigated pearl - the surface of its luminescence and the thickness of the organic matter spacers separating the crystals and layers of aragonite. The thinner these gaskets, the fewer obstacles the ultraviolet rays will encounter during their passage deep into the pearl and the deeper they will penetrate into it, causing the luminescence of layers of organic matter encountered on their way. In pearls with significant spacers of this substance, the luminescence intensity is low. In brown pearls, only the surface layers luminesce. Sea pearls luminesce in ultraviolet rays in a bluish, white, greenish color.

X-ray examination. X-ray studies of modern freshwater and sea pearls have confirmed that aragonite predominates in them. All diffraction patterns clearly show intense reflexes (3.36-3.38; 3.26-3.28; 2.71-2.72; 2.67-2.68; 2.46-2.47; 2, 36; 2.31-2.33; 2.09-2.10; 1.965-1.967; 1.868-1.873; 1.805-1.806, 1.735-1.738; 1.717-1.720 A), inherent in this mineral. The difference between the diffraction pattern of pearls and that of synthetic aragonite lies in the presence of additional reflections on it (3.54-3.55; 2.05; 1.847; 1.627-1.637; 1.610-1.614 A), fixing the presence of some other compounds in the pearl composition ...

Pearls of 200 and 300 years ago also have aragonite composition. The weathering processes, which led to a change in some areas of the pearls to a powdery state, did not affect their mineral composition.

The results of an X-ray study of river pearls from a gold bracelet (1st century BC - 1st century AD), found in the region of Simferopol, are different. It turned out that 20-century-old river pearls are mainly represented by calcite with a very small amount of aragonite. The interplanar distances of sea pearls from the mussel caught in the Feodosiya Bay indicate that it is composed of aragonite. According to the X-ray study of Black Sea pearls carried out by Shnyukov and Demenko, it consists of aragonite with a small admixture of clayey matter of montmorillonite composition. An admixture of calcite was found in the nacreous layer of the shells; in the outer layer of shells, calcite predominates.

The mesmerizing beauty of pearls is proof that magic exists. Pearls have their own temperament, radiate a special energy and actively attract to themselves. By learning to understand and feel the energy potential of pearls, you will be able to control its power and use it for the benefit of your health and well-being.

Pearls are a gem, an organic mineral that is extracted from shellfish shells. This is the only jewelry material that is obtained from shellfish. Since ancient times, it was taken from the bottom of the sea by divers from the shores of Ceylon and South India, Saudi Arabia and the countries of the Persian Gulf. Pearls can be stored for almost 200 years!

For everyone and for the elite

The uniqueness of pearls lies in the fact that absolutely all women in the world are worthy of them! Pearl jewelry was worn by crowned heads of the royal dynasties of Europe, Russian empresses, Russian peasant women, as well as charming pearl divers from countless poor villages on the coast of the Indian Ocean.

Pearls are a symbol of aristocracy and impeccable taste. Along with diamonds, luxurious stone jewelry is presented annually at Christie's Geneva and Sotheby's.

Without a pearl necklace, it is impossible to imagine the image of such iconic people, unsurpassed style icons such as Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Maria Callas, Princess Diana, Audrey Hepburn.

A pearl necklace is a symbol of wealth and at the same time a symbol of modesty and dignity. There are no women who would not fit pearls! But in order to choose and wear pearls correctly, you need to be the owner of impeccable taste and know many important nuances.

The oldest pearl in the world

World history contains information about large pearls found in different parts of the world. But none of them have survived to this day, since pearls have not been stored for more than 150-200 years.

One of the most ancient pearls is called the "Wandering Pearl" (in Spanish it sounds like Peregrina).

A 55.95-carat pear-shaped pearl was caught in the 15th century by a black slave in the Pearl Islands. In the 16th century, it was recognized as the largest pearl in the world.

Beginning with the Spanish Queen Mary Tudor, Peregrina was present on all the ceremonial attire of the Spanish female monarchs. The Wandering Pearl can be seen on the canvases of the genius Velazquez. The Spanish kings considered this pearl a crown jewel and passed it on to each other. So Peregrina came into the possession of Louis Napoleon, the younger brother of Napoleon Bonaparte.

He sold the Spanish relic to the heirs of a noble Scottish family, who in turn sold Peregrine at Sotheby's. Then "The Wandering Pearl" was acquired by Richard Burton, who presented it to his famous wife, actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Three years ago, a unique gem from the treasury of European royalty was sold to a private collection at Christie's for $ 12 million.

Pearls - big and small

White, black, cream, yellowish, silvery, golden, blue, green, gray, pink are the main colors of pearls.

The brighter the shine, the more valuable the pearl is.

In shape, pearls are spherical, pear-shaped, oval, button-shaped. A spherical shape is considered ideal. Shapeless pearls are called "baroque".

The best pearls are selected for sale - no defects. The surface of the pearls should be perfect - no depressions, no bumps or spots.

The larger the size, the more expensive the pearl. The size of natural pearls depends on the type of shellfish in which they are grown.

The largest sea pearl

The largest pearl known to the world today was found in 1934 in the Philippines.

Her weight is 6,370 kilograms (1280 carats).
Diameter - 238 mm.

A giant pearl has grown in a huge shell of the mollusk Tridacna gigas weighing 300 kg, the age of which has been determined by experts at 450 years. It is in the Philippines that this giant bivalve mollusk lives.

The first pearl was acquired by the head of the Philippine island of Palawan. He then gave the name to the famous gem. "Pearl of Allah" - this is how the Muslim called the wonder of the world, raised from the bottom of the sea. Five years later, he presented this treasure to a completely random person who saved the life of his son.

Today, the value of this pearl, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is estimated at $ 40 million. The owners carefully conceal its location, planning to donate to some museum of world importance, so that millions of people from all over the world could admire this beauty.

Russian pearls

Today, not everyone knows that in the 19th century Russia was a truly pearl country! The abundance of pearls in our country shocked visiting Europeans! Every Russian woman wore pearls. Pearls were everywhere - on dresses, on hats, on chobots, on handkerchiefs. In those days, pearls were mined from the bottom of rivers and lakes of the Russian North. Ordinary peasant women, noble women and members of the imperial family adorned themselves with pearls.

Pearl brooch of Empress Maria Feodorovna

The Russian Empress Maria Feodorovna, the wife of Emperor Alexander III, like all women of the imperial family, highly valued pearls.
The empress loved the pearl brooch more than any other adornment, and wore it around her neck as a pendant on a black velvet ribbon.

This elegant brooch is made in the form of a diamond ribbon tied with a bow. In the center there is a large pearl with a pendant on which two pearls are fixed.

The pearl brooch remained in the personal collection of Empress Maria Feodorovna until her death in 1928. After the death of the queen, the brooch was inherited by her eldest daughter, Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna. Later, Xenia sold the pearl brooch to Lady Deterding, a famous British collector of expensive jewelry. Lady Deterding made the brooch part of a necklace, and Cartier jewelers added a diamond thread to the brooch.

Why have pearls been so popular for centuries? Pearls have fascinated women all over the world, regardless of status and wealth.

The answer is simple - pearls are an incredibly feminine stone, the magic of which works real wonders! Jewelry with him fantastically transforms a woman, making her image more sophisticated and piercing, emphasizing all her dignity. Earrings, brooches, rings, necklaces - at least one of the pearl jewelry must be present in the wardrobe of a well-groomed and beautiful woman.

All about pearls: origin, history of origin

The color of pearls can be varied, it all depends on where the mollusk lives.

The resulting material can be a rich white, black or pinkish shades are often found in nature. If the stone is the size of a pea, it can be assumed that it is a little over 10 years old. If the "pea" is large, it may be about 40 years old.

The pearl stone is famous for its interesting history. Natural natural material is at the very bottom, from there sailors and hunters get it. For over 100 years, there has been an alternative method for obtaining pearls, namely artificial cultivation. A well-known Japanese company is engaged in this. Today you can see a large number of pearl farms, mostly located in Japan. In terms of quality, pearls obtained by artificial means hardly differ from the real ones, but they cost less. This is due to the fact that it is not easy to get natural stone, moreover, divers risk their lives. Today, the stone is mined in South America, India, on the islands of the Caribbean Sea.

Where is the stone mined?

As mentioned above, pearls have a rich history. It was mined in Russia, as well as in European countries. Quite often, the material was extracted from the rivers of Ireland. During the Middle Ages, reserves of pearl stone were discovered in the north of Russia. As for freshwater breeds, they are mined in the USA and Bavaria. There are high quality pearls on sale from Tahiti and the Red Sea, as well as breeds from Iran.

One of the most valuable is the Oriental variety (yellow pearls). This mineral is mined in the Persian Gulf; a lot of people live nearby who are not averse to diving and getting this luxurious material. Finding a pearl is not easy. To do this, you need to sort out about 40 shells, the work is very difficult and painstaking.

Pearls in different countries

In Russia, pearls are often called a tear of joy. The name arose because a pearl was often compared to a drop that flows from a water lily leaf into a shell. In China, pearls are a dew drop of the goddess of love; the Chinese call them "frozen moonlight." In ancient Greece, people believed that pearls were the tears of a sea nymph; statues of goddesses were often decorated with the material.

The sea stone is notable for its incredible beauty, in the old days it was used to decorate clothes and jewelry. The material was appreciated not only among the noble, but also among ordinary people. Queens loved to wear pearl bracelets and beads; they were often used to decorate shoes. The ancient rulers admired this natural material: in order to get a string of pearls, they were ready to give a large amount of gold.

Queen Semiramis loved to wear strings of pearls, and the legendary Cleopatra accidentally swallowed a pearl that was in a glass. In Russia, pearls had unprecedented popularity; they were in demand among noble rulers and merchants. As far as modern fashion is concerned, the stone has become popular thanks to Coco Chanel. Many ladies began to wear it in combination with a little black dress.This style is distinguished by sophistication, a certain royal chic is inherent in it. In the jewelry industry, jewels are combined with diamonds.

Contradictory characteristics

From an astrological point of view, pearls do not bring happiness. This is due to the fact that unpleasant, dark lunar energy is concentrated in it (according to ancient beliefs, it only brings the illusion of happiness). A sophisticated silver ring with this precious material can be worn on the right ring finger. There is one version: if you hold the pearl in your mouth for some time, you can calm down and find peace of mind, at the same time you can get rid of pain in the heart: this method helps to cleanse the blood of harmful substances. Some people consider pearls to be a symbol of love and spiritual strength.

Versions regarding magical power are quite contradictory, some astrologers do not recommend wearing a stone in the form of a ring, it is better to wear pendants, bracelets, beads. If a person is really strong in spirit, he will not be able to fall under the negative influence of the stone. It is not recommended to buy pearls for travel lovers, actors, singers and people working with children. If you feel that you are overly proud, but dream of getting rid of pride, be sure to pay attention to this adorable stone.

Pearls: magical properties

As mentioned above, the stone has been known since antiquity, the Chinese used it as a means of exchange. Pearls were a favorite and popular mineral in the East as well as in America. It was previously used in faraway Japan. It was believed that a person wearing a jewel would be young for many years. In Europe, it is generally accepted that pearls are a symbol of longevity. The inhabitants of India do not agree that a jewel is a symbol of an unhappy life, in their beliefs pearls are the lord of marriage bonds.

In modern magic, there is a lot of information about this amazing stone. If you look at him for a long time, a person will feel harmony, calmness, peace. To this day, the jewel is loved and appreciated in China; it is one of the main elixirs of beauty. The stone is known in Mongolia, in this country it is considered a symbol of power. During its existence, the jewel has brought joy to many people. The stone is an example of pure, sincere love, it is considered that it brings positive and a tremendous charge of cheerfulness.

In addition, the gem protects its owner, it quickly gets used to the owner, but does not tolerate being given again. If a person has any base, dirty thoughts, after a certain time the stone fades and loses its former attractiveness. The magical properties of pearls have been known since ancient times. It is generally accepted that if a pearl shines very strongly, it means that its owner has a healthy energy. If you wear a ring with a natural pearl, you can warn yourself against thieves and intruders.

In addition to its magical properties, pearls have medicinal properties. The stone is suitable for everyone, it will always help if you have problems with the digestive system, kidneys. It is believed that he is able to overcome hypertension, various nervous disorders, weakness. For medicinal purposes, water is used with this stone: it is recommended to put several pearls in it and let it brew for exactly one night. Healing infusion can help with conjunctivitis, a problem with the gums. It will help if you have liver problems. Pearl water has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Pearls are of interest to many ladies: the stone attracts and bewitches. Jewelry made from this jewel will remain popular for a very long time.