Earth Quest Pearl Traditional Indian pearl arrangement known as a 'Bombay bunch'. Prized in East and West alike, the pearl is a universal symbol of beauty and perfection. It is linked to the realm of the feminine - the moon, chastity, patience, and purity. Chinese dragons are usually portrayed clasping a pearl, symbol of wisdom, immortality, and light. Pearls were once thought to be the tears of the gods.
Pearls are organic gemstones, forming in shellfish such as oysters and mussels.
Although pearls are valued for their beauty, they evolve as a means of protecting shellfish from the presence of irritating material such as sand in their soft tissue. The shellfish secretes layers of the mineral aragonite, also called nacre, to cover the irritant. Eventually, these layers build up to form a pearl. The image below shows Pinctada maxima, the largest pearl oyster. It is found in the seas around Australia and Malaysia.