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The month of June signals a turning point as spring ends and summer begins. It also signals one of our favorite months for birthstones. The official birthstone of June is the pearl, an organic gem that has fascinated people for thousands of years, and continues to be one of the most sought after and beloved pieces of jewelry.

The tradition of giving birthstones is as timeless as pearls themselves. For the woman lucky enough to be born in June, she will certainly remember her first piece of pearl jewelry and recall the person who gave it to her with love. The one-of-a-kind beauty that makes the pearl special also makes it the perfect gift for honoring an important birthday. Each pearl collected is as unique as a fingerprint, making pearls the ultimate choice in personalized jewelry.

What makes the pearl worth bestowing upon your loved one? Read our guide to pearls to learn more about the history of pearls and how to select the perfect pearl for your June birthday girl.

History: a Pearl is Born

The rare pearl gemstone begins with an oyster, and it develops from inside the soft tissue of the mollusk. For centuries, pearls could only be found in the wild, but today the majority of pearls sold are cultured. In 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto discovered a method for nurturing a pearl into being by inserting a tiny shell fragment into an oyster, thus stimulating the oyster to grow layers of nacre which form into a beautiful pearl. The process of cultivating pearls requires precision, time and dedication.

Quality: a Gem Like No Other

Although the pearl is rare, its popularity has led to a dizzying array of choices. At Skeie’s, we select pearl jewelry of the highest quality and offer two main collections from fine retailers Mikimoto and Mastoloni. The best pearls are selected based on luster, shape, surface markings, size and color. In addition, Mikimoto pearls are graded using a system for identifying the quality of luster and surface protection.

Selection: Kinds of Pearls

Pearls have a wide variety of appearances depending on the type of oyster that produced them, and they differ in their shape, size, luster and mysterious colors.

MIKIMOTO Cultured Pearl Princess Strand

Akoya cultured pearls are produced by Akoya oysters in Japan. Known for their high luster and rich color, Akoyas may be white, cream, silver, gold, pink or green. Their size varies, ranging from 3-10mm depending on the size of the oyster.

Mastoloni Golden South Sea Pearl Earrings

South Sea cultured pearls come from large oysters in the warm waters of the South Seas, including Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The Silver Lipped oyster produces a white pearl and the Golden Lipped oyster produces a golden pearl. South Sea pearls produce magnificently large pearls, most larger than 10mm.

MIKIMOTO Black South Sea Pendant

Tahitian cultured pearls are sometimes called black pearls because they come from the black lipped oyster. Their dark mysterious color ranges in shades of metallic silver to dark graphite, with blueish, green, or purple overtones.

Skeie’s also offers a selection of freshwater pearls and mother of pearl which are both beautiful and affordable. If you would like to learn more about pearls, the expert staff at Skeie’s would be happy to help you.