June's Birthstone | Pearl
What is the birthstone for June?
June’s birthstone is the elegant pearl. Adored for its pearly and iridescent lustre, this enchanting gemstone is a natural beauty; formed inside oysters and mussels. Not just for June, pearl jewellery is timeless and continues to be a trend over recent years, and makes the ultimate fashionable finishing touch.
If you’ve ever wondered “where do pearls come from?”, delve into the history of the pearl with us and discover why it’s one of the most loved gemstones, and learn the meaning behind pearls, too. We also share some our favourite pieces that will add instant style and glamour to every jewellery box, whether you have a Gemini birth sign or not.
If you’re celebrating a special occasion like a birthday this month, now is the perfect time to treat yourself or someone special to stunning pearls. A timeless gemstone, we also love pearls for prom jewellery, bridal jewellery and anniversary gifting.
What is the birthstone for Gemini?
The pearl is the Gemini birthstone for those with the Zodiac sign of Gemini (21st May - 20th June). Other gemstones that represent the Gemini star sign are agate, emerald, alexandrite and ruby. It’s believed that wearing pearls will uplift a Gemini’s confidence and remove any negative influence from the planets.
“We not only love the beauty of pearls, but also the story behind pearls, too. If you’ve ever wondered what the meaning of pearls is, they’re a symbol of wisdom, loyalty, protection and are said to attract good luck and wealth. Pearls are also said to bring balance to karma with their calming effect, and because of their loyalty, protection and purity, pearls are a popular choice for a bride to wear on her wedding day.” - Courtney, Jewellery Buyer.
June birthstone pearls can vary in colour, but each one is just as beautiful, with some pearls appearing creamier than others. With others having more of a pale-yellow glow, which makes it extra special to us in knowing not every pearl is the same. Black, grey and silver-coloured pearls are also fairly common.
What are pearls and where do they come from?
What are cultured pearls?
You may be wondering how are pearls made? Pearls are a beautiful and natural gem created by a living organism. For cultured pearls, a technician makes small incisions on the upper valve of a mussel and inserts a small piece of mantle tissue which begins to stimulate nacre production. This tissue then begins to dry up leaving behind a beautiful solid pearl in its place. Most pearl jewellery today consists of cultured pearls, as completely natural pearls (that don’t need an incision) are very rare and demand a lot of money.
What are freshwater pearls?
Freshwater cultured pearls are formed within freshwater mussels. Usually they’re cultured within freshwater lakes and ponds. This is the most popular type of pearl within the jewellery industry, due to the amazing array of sizes and colours that can be cultured from a freshwater pearl. Freshwater cultured pearls can grow up to ten times bigger than a saltwater cultured pearl that’s formed within an oyster in the sea.
June birthstone jewellery
For those on the hunt for the perfect pearl jewellery to complement their star sign, there are various pearl styles to choose from, but classic and statement pearls continue to be timeless throughout every era.
We love the glowing touch of this BOSS Gold Tone Pearl Bracelet. This chunky gold bracelet is perfect for taking your look from day to night. The combination of the yellow gold tone and pearls make it perfect for a June birthstone gift for you or someone who loves glamorous jewellery to make a statement with.
If you want to give a more delicate style to complement the lustrous pearl, this Yellow Gold Plated Freshwater Cultured Pearl Bracelet combines elegance and luxury for a truly timeless feel. Crafted in gold plated sterling silver, we’re obsessed with this classic that we’re pairing with our favourite ballet pumps and frilled skirts for statement balletcore.
Right now it’s all about letting pearls into everyday styling. Not just for special occasions, another way of perfecting your pearl look is with a lustrous mother-of-pearl design. Discover these enchanting hues in a clover necklace like this 9ct Yellow Gold Mother of Pearl Clover Necklace. Crafted in 9ct yellow gold, pair it with the matching earrings and bracelet, too.
For when you want as many lustrous pearls as possible in your jewellery, we’ve got you covered with this Silver Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace. A stunning array of pearls embellishes the necklace, for a distinctive style that will make you stand out from the crowd.
Everybody loves a bit of sparkle from time to time. These stunning 9ct White Gold Diamond Freshwater Cultured Pearl Drop Earrings showcase a beautiful freshwater cultured pearl held in a 9ct white gold drop design with a diamond sparkling at the top of the design. The perfect pair of earrings for any special occasion, we can’t wait to wear these earrings with a classic LBD for a flawless look this Gemini pearl season
For a contemporary, sophisticated style, these Silver Freshwater Cultured Pearl Hoop Earrings are a perfect staple for your day-to-day. Chic and elegant, these hoops will take your look from day to night without ever looking out of place. Accessorise with these pretty pearl earrings to add a sense of classic glamour to your outfit.
How to tell if pearls are real
There are a few handy ways to spot a fake plastic or resin pearl from a real pearl, from weight, colour, shape, and texture.
Weight: When a necklace filled with real pearls is held next to a fake necklace with the same number of pearls, the real pearl necklace will feel heavier. This is the case when comparing it to plastic or resin pearls. As technology is changing all the time, some fake pearls are now being made from heavier materials.
Shape: Luckily you can also look at the shape to spot a fake pearl. Most things formed from the earth are not defined by perfection and their ‘flaws’ make them even more beautiful. Fake pearls are always perfectly round as they’ve been manufactured to be so. Real pearls will be almost perfectly round, but not 100%.
Lustre: The easiest way to see if a pearl is real or fake is to test it in the sunshine. A real pearl will shine with the most stunning lustre. The radiance of a real pearl cannot be imitated.
You never need to worry about any of that when buying pearls from Beaverbrooks of course. We only ever buy real freshwater cultured pearls, to guarantee only beautiful and iridescent pearls for your jewellery collection.
Want to learn more about pearls and the other birthstones? Read our Guide To Birthstone Jewellery to discover the science, meaning and history behind each birthstone. Want to know how to take care of your pearls? Discover our Jewellery Care Guide for tips and advice on cleaning and storing your jewellery.
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