Enigmatic and impactful, the black pearl is one of the most sought-after jewels present in the market today.
‘Why’, you ask? Because of its beauty and symbolism.
So join us today as we discuss about the ‘Queen of Pearls’, and decode the various legends that surround this exotic gemstone.
Some Background…
Also known as the Tahitian Pearl, the black pearl is a cultured gemstone born within black-lipped oysters. The entire cultivation process is extremely difficult and requires roughly 2 to 3 years for completion. Due to this, the jewel is one of the rarest cultured pearls in the world. Not only that, but the gemstone itself is devoid of any treatments and its bold hue is 100% natural – a fact that has added to its overall popularity as well as the price tag.
Myths and Symbolisms
An interesting tidbit about this jewel is that its symbolism originates from the myths that surround it. Below we’ve mentioned some of the main legends.
1. Ancient China
According to ancient Chinese legends, black pearls are said to have originated from the brains of the dragons (some versions state that the stone was the source of the beast’s power). To protect the jewel and keep it close, the dragons would often hold it in between their teeth and would only release their gemstone upon death.
Symbolism: Just like the dragon, black pearls are considered to be the symbol of wisdom and strength. What’s more, in the Chinese culture these gemstones are often gifted to bestow the receiver with luck and good fortune.
2. Polynesia
Believe it or not, two Polynesian legends surround the black pearl.
Legend of Oro
This is arguably the most famous myth surrounding the black pearl. The story begins with Oro, the Polynesian God of fertility and peace, descending to earth on a rainbow. His original purpose was to gift the people of Polynesia a black pearl. However, upon arrival, Oro met and promptly fell in love with the island princess, Bora-Bora. He eventually presented the stone to her (and only her) as a symbol of his ever-lasting love.
Folklore about its formation
According to some legends, the moon (who was considered to be a goddess at the time) would often bathe in the ocean filling the island in bright, silver light to attract oysters. She blessed the mollusks who heeded her call with a few drops of heavenly dew, which would later mature into black pearls.
Symbolism: Because of the legend of Oro, the black pearl is often used to symbolize eternal love. It is also associated with heavenly blessings due to the legend surrounding its creation.
3. Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
This particular legend finds its base in Christian mythology. It begins with God removing Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. As they left, they started to cry and their tears eventually formed a lake filled with pearls. Adam’s tears resulted in the formation of black pearls, while Eve’s tears created white and pink pearls. Unsurprisingly, people during that time associated the scarcity of the black stone with the rarity of Adam’s tears.
Symbolism: Because of this particular legend, the black pearl is now believed to represent the uniqueness and rarity of an individual.
As seen throughout this article, the black pearl is much more than just a beauty to behold. Its symbolism makes it worthy of being passed on from generation to generation.
Also read: The Symbolism of Three-Stone Rings
