Heavenly pearls!

Princess Diana just loved pearls!
Image Diana's jewels

Another Phos to alethinon bookmark  Philip Ball, What makes pearls round?
BBC Future, Science & Environment June 24 2013

Nacre [Mother of Pearl] is an astonishing material. It consists mostly of the mineral aragonite, a form of calcium carbonate (the fabric of chalk and marble). The mineral is laid down as microscopic slabs stacked in layers and “glued” with softer organic membranes of protein and chitin (the main component of the insect cuticle and shrimp shell). This composite structure, with hard layers weakly bonded together, makes nacre extremely tough and crack-resistant, which is why materials scientists seek to mimic it in artificial composites. It also reflects light in a manner that creates interference of the light waves, producing the iridescence of mother-of-pearl.
op.cit.

Everybody admires the beauty of pearls, Dilmun's pearl divers looked for elixir of eternal life in Gilgamesh epos 4000 years ago. Beautiful women of highest royalty have searched for the perfect pearl in order to outshine other noble ladies in that event...

Also the writers of the Holy Bible elevate pearls high up even to the gates of heavenly Jerusalem!

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

Rev 21:21 KJV 


Pearls have messages in the Bible

Rare in Old Testament * - only Mother of Pearl is mentioned in Persia:
The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones.
Esther 1:6

Pearls were known and valued in Roman period Palestine:
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Jesus
Matthew 7:6

Sound investment!
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Jesus

Matthew 13:45-46

Modesty of Christian women:

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes.

Paul

1 Timothy 2:9 

The Book of Revelation: 

The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.

Rev 17:4

cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;

Rev 18:12

Woe! Woe to you, great city,
dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!

Rev 18:16

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* Note that in many Old Testament verses the Hebrew word פּני פּנין (pni, pnin) is translated as ruby rather than as pearl, for example Proverbs 3:15 et al.