According to legend, pearls are tears of joy from the goddess of love, Aphrodite. They symbolize prosperity, purity and innocence, as well as supposedly ensuring long life.

The pearl is perhaps the most beloved gemstone of all time.

It is best known in white and cream, but its color palette ranges from salmon pink and lavender to shades of blue and green.

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Pearls are organic gemstones, they grow in the tissue of a living mollusk, and thus come from oceans, lakes and rivers.

With a hardness of 2.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale, they are relatively soft gemstones. Store them separately from other stones and jewelry to avoid scratches.

The birthstone of June is a traditional gift at weddings.