Long known as the Queen of Gems, pearls possess a history, allure and value far beyond what is recognized today. Throughout much of recorded history, a natural pearl necklace of matched spheres was a treasure of almost incomparable value, in fact the most expensive jewelry in the world. Now we see pearls almost as accessories, decorations to accompany more costly gemstones.
Pearls played the pivotal role at the most celebrated banquet in literature. To convince Rome that Egypt possessed a heritage and wealth that put it above conquest, Cleopatra wagered Marc Antony she could give the most expensive dinner in history. The Roman reclined as the queen sat with an empty plate and a goblet of wine (or vinegar). She crushed one large pearl of a pair of earrings, stirred it in the liquid, then drank it down. Astonished, Antony declined his dinner - the matching pearl - and admitted she had won. Pliny, the world's first gemologist, writes in his famous Natural History that the two pearls were worth an estimated 60 million sesterces, or 1,875,000 ounces of fine silver ($112,500,000 with silver at approximately $60 per ounce).
Across cultures, pearls have been linked to the moon, protection, and life‑sustaining water, and in China, they were believed to protect against fire and dragons; in Europe, they symbolized chastity and purity, also wealth and power.
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