Pearl is the only gem made by a living thing, and the only one that needs no cutting or polishing to be finished. For centuries that made natural pearls scarcer than any mined stone, and Victorian jewelers stretched them by working tiny seed pearls into lace-like patterns. When culturing arrived around the turn of the twentieth century, pearls opened to everyone without losing their oldest associations. Our June birthstone guide runs from Victorian seed pearls to mid-century mabe.
That whole arc is represented here: Victorian seed pearl work, mid-century cocktail pieces, classic strands, and modern studs and pendants. June's birthstone flatters every metal and every age, which is why it never really leaves.
Pearls are the gentlest gems in the drawer, 2.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale, and they keep best with the old rule: last thing on, first thing off. Perfume, hairspray, and cosmetics dull nacre over time, and a soft cloth after wear does more than any cleaner. Never ultrasonic. Our care guide has the full ritual.
Our birthstone jewelry guide covers the other eleven months.
