Do pearls bring bad luck? Are they a good gift idea?

In Polish culture, there is a widespread superstition that pearls bring bad luck. This is particularly true of those given by a man, and especially those worn at a wedding or engagement. According to folk wisdom, if we must wear them at all, we should buy them for ourselves – otherwise, disaster is guaranteed... We, of course, don’t believe in such superstitions and wear pearls ourselves, and with great pleasure!

Touch wood, nothing’s happened to us so far. Not a scratch, of course! :) Do pearls bring misfortune? Find out in this article.

The birth of pearls. Did it look that bad from the start?

When were pearls first formed? No, not in the Palaeolithic era! Everyone knows that Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is responsible for the creation of pearls. When she emerged from the sea foam (foam and nothing but foam) at her birth, the splashing drops of water turned into pearls. No wonder, then, that in ancient times pearls were a symbol of love, often with an emphasis on its physical aspect.

Courtesans were particularly fond of them – presumably because they wanted to curry favour with Aphrodite and ensure the goddess looked favourably upon them. Interestingly, in neighbouring Persia, pearls were a symbol of… virginity.

Pearls in Asian countries – what’s the situation there?

Pearls are certainly not viewed negatively in Eastern countries. They bring wealth, wisdom and happiness. In Tibetan beliefs, it is thought that a pearl becomes so attuned to its owner that it loses its lustre when the person wearing it is ill.

In China, a pearl is a symbol of success and good fortune, for example during school exams. Does this mean that pearls worn whilst travelling to Thailand will bring us luck, but no longer once we return home? We hope that’s not the case ;)

Do pearls bring bad luck in Poland?

Legends used to tell that the first pearls were the tears of angels, and that a woman who wears them will shed many tears, particularly because of the fault of the person who gave them to her (in this case, her husband). That’s why they were avoided at weddings, and engagement rings with a pearl are considered unlucky.

On the other hand, however, they have always been attributed with healing powers, and it was also believed that pearls are formed when a rainbow touches the ocean – can you imagine a more beautiful myth?

Pearls also feature in the Bible – always in a positive light.

Pearls at a wedding – yes or no?

Pearls are beautiful, but they need looking after – without that, they lose their beauty.

Isn’t that a wonderful message for a newly formed relationship? Love isn’t always as hard and sparkling as a diamond, because, after all… for better or for worse. And the delicacy of pearls and their natural shade of white complement a wedding dress beautifully.

Anyway, girls – pearls aren’t the only wedding superstitions. Let’s take a look at the most popular ones: - you shouldn’t get married in months without an ‘r’ in their name (e.g. May, July or April) - The bride must not try on her wedding dress except during the fitting - Before entering the church, the bride must not look at her reflection in a mirror - The bride and groom must not be driven to the wedding by a woman - the bride’s shoes should be left on the windowsill until the big day - rain on the wedding day spells misfortune - the bride should have a coin in her shoes and… rice sewn into her dress.

So what? Nothing. Most of us don’t pay any attention to wedding superstitions. We hope you feel the same way about pearls ;)

A case study, a consumer survey… let’s find out!

We can assure you that our jewellery enjoys a very good reputation, and we’ve never heard of any curse or bad luck befalling our customers after their purchase :)

Not enough? Let’s take a look at the stars!

Famous lovers of pearls have included wonderful women, icons of their time, such as Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy (who used to say that “pearls are always appropriate”), Coco Chanel, and more recently – Kate Middleton, Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama. Not a single one of them has been struck by a curse; on the contrary, they are women who are universally liked and admired. So let’s sleep soundly. And let’s wear pearls!

Are pearls a good gift? Can they be worn every day?

Pearls make a great gift for many occasions. We can give them to our mum, grandmother, fiancée or wife, provided we know she wears and likes jewellery. Their beauty is timeless and effectively defies passing trends, which is why they make a gift that will never go out of fashion.

Pearl jewellery is perfect for special occasions, but we can also wear it as part of our everyday outfits. Of course, not all of us would feel comfortable wearing a string of pearls at work or at university – a discreet bracelet, earrings or a delicate ring would be much more suitable in such cases. But of course, this isn’t a rule – each of us can wear pearls however we like!

They often work well in situations where diamonds or rubies seem too ostentatious or refined. They’re a good choice for women who appreciate classic style. And who don’t worry about superstitions ;)

Pearls have their own myths and legends, which, in our view, only adds to their mystery and elusive charm. Their whiteness has been, and continues to be, regarded by many cultures as a sign of purity and innocence – which we also find more compelling than searching for a dark, sinister side to them.

We hope that this article has not only given you an insight into the symbolism of pearls across different cultures, but has also shown you just how many facets they have and what an interesting history they possess. They are definitely jewellery with a soul.

Let’s look after our pearls, and they won’t take revenge or bring us bad luck ;)

You can read about how to look after pearls here.