Legends of Pearls

Pearls are among humanity's oldest treasures. Long before science explained how they form, people all over the world told stories about their birth – from drops of dew, the tears of gods, moonlight or the power of dragons. These legends still shape what pearls symbolise today: purity, love, wisdom and protection.

In this guide: Krishna and Venus, rainbows and raindrops, the dragon and the glowing pearl, the grateful snake, black and white pearls, elixir of youth, legends at a glance, frequently asked questions.

The birth of pearls – from Krishna to Venus

In Hindu culture, pearls are linked to the Moon and regarded as a symbol of purity and love. Their soft, cool lustre reminded people of moonlight, so it was believed that a pearl carries the Moon's calm, protective power within it. According to an ancient legend, the god Krishna descended into the depths of the ocean, where he found the first pearl. He gave it to his daughter on her wedding day – as a wish for a happy and faithful marriage. Ever since, pearls have been a talisman of love and a guardian of marital happiness, and they remain one of the most popular choices of bridal jewellery.

The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that wearing pearls strengthens harmony between partners, and the union of the souls of Psyche and Cupid was depicted as a string of pearls. The Romans saw pearls not only as a symbol of wisdom and wealth, but also as a key to happiness. Ladies slept wearing pearl necklaces to invite beautiful dreams. According to ancient tales, Venus (the Greek Aphrodite), goddess of love, was born from the sea foam and carried ashore by a seashell – just like the pearl, which people then believed was born inside a shell from a drop of sea dew. This is why pearls in antiquity were dedicated to the goddess of love and beauty.

Pearls from rainbows, raindrops and moonlight

According to a Persian legend, pearls are born after a storm, where a rainbow touches the earth. The tiny irregularities and spots on a pearl's surface were said to be caused by the thunder and lightning that came before the rainbow. In Persia it was also said that pearls form from drops of spring rain falling into an open pearl oyster.

Ancient scholars recorded a similar belief, among them Pliny the Elder: shells were thought to open at night, take in drops of rain or dew, and turn them into pearls. The purer the dew, the more beautiful the pearl. Other stories tell of shells rising to the surface at full moon, with pearls born from the meeting of the sea and moonlight – which is why many cultures called pearls "little moons".

The legend of the dragon and the glowing pearl

In Chinese mythology, the pearl is considered a gift from heaven. According to an old tale, it is guarded by a mighty dragon who holds it between its teeth as a source of strength, wisdom and light. When a storm rages in the sky, it is said that pearls fall from the clouds like drops lost by fighting dragons. This is why the pearl in Chinese art is often shown as a glowing sphere in the dragon's mouth or beneath its chin – a symbol of knowledge, prosperity and inner energy. The motif of a dragon chasing the "flaming pearl" can still be seen today on temples, porcelain and at New Year celebrations.

The tale of the grateful snake

One of the lesser-known Chinese legends tells of a ruler who saved a wounded snake. In the best-known version, he is the Marquis of Sui, who found a badly injured snake on his travels and dressed its wound. A year later, the snake returned and brought him a radiant pearl as a sign of gratitude. The pearl is said to have shone so brightly that it lit up an entire room at night, which is why it was called the "moonlight pearl". Known as the Marquis of Sui's pearl, it became one of the most famous treasures of ancient China, and the story is among the oldest known tales of an animal repaying a kindness to a human. Since then, people have believed that pearls connect the worlds of people and nature, and that true kindness always comes back – often in the form of an unexpected gift.

Legends of black and white pearls

An old Polynesian legend also tells of pearls and love. Oro, the god of peace and fertility, descended from the sky on a rainbow and brought people a magical pearl oyster. On the island of Bora Bora he fell in love with a beautiful princess and offered her the black pearl from the oyster as proof of his love. Since then, black pearls have been a symbol of deep feeling and fidelity. Tahitian pearls, still cultured in French Polynesia today, are considered a gift of the gods thanks to this legend. Explore our Tahitian pearl jewellery.

In other cultures, the birth of pearls was linked to tears. Ancient stories called them the tears of the gods, while in Ceylon it was said that the tears of Adam and Eve formed a lake from which pearls arose – white and pink from Eve's tears and black from Adam's. Because men cry less often, black pearls are rarer according to the legend. The black pearl became a symbol of the exceptional and the rare, and is called the "queen of pearls". Its real colours are explained in our article Are black pearls really black?

Pearls as an elixir of youth and wisdom

In many countries, pearls were credited with miraculous powers. Mongol rulers drank a brew of crushed pearls, believing it would boost their strength and vitality. In India, pearls served as a talisman protecting warriors from wounds. The Chinese made a healing drink from pearls and believed that black pearls hold the wisdom of the universe. According to them, black pearls were created by a dragon who held them tightly between its teeth until a human defeated it. The Japanese, in turn, claimed that pearls are born from the tears of mythical beings – mermaids, fairies and angels. The Egyptians valued their pearls so highly that they were buried with them, and Queen Cleopatra, according to the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder, wagered Mark Antony that she could host the most expensive banquet in history. She is said to have dissolved a pearl in a cup of vinegar to prove she could swallow the wealth of the whole world in a single sip.

Pearl legends at a glance

Frequently asked questions

Choose pearl jewellery from our collection

Pearl earrings	Pearl sets	Pearl bracelets
Pearl necklaces	Luxury jewellery	Pearl pendants

This guide was prepared and verified by the Buka Jewelry pearl specialist team, based on our experience since 2013. Last updated: October 2026.