Pearls are one of the modern birthstones for June.  They have been recognized since the earliest times as the emblem of purity and modesty.   Royal families throughout history and geography have revered the pearl as one of the most valued treasures while collecting and adorning themselves with this lustrous, organic gem.  Pearls are produced by mussels in freshwater lakes or rivers, or by large oysters in the ocean. Most commonly found today is the cultured pearl from pearl farms, meaning that the pearl is “started” by inserting a tiny piece of natural shell into the mantle of the mussel or oyster to encourage a pearl to start growing.