Do vegans wear pearls?

[galaxygirl]

Just outta curiousity, do vegans wear pearls?

I know vegans don't wear leather, wool, fur, etc. But I've never heard whether or not they wear pearls.

[jenna]

Pearls don't come up into conversations as much as leather/wool/fur does. But yes, if you're vegan and avoid leather/wool/fur you should add in silk, pearls, feathers, ivory, bone and so on to that list.

[Medesha]

Agreed. I wouldn't buy pearls any more than leather/wool/silk.

[Beachbnny]

I've been asked about this numerous times (though I'm not vegan anymore). I was given a strand of pearls for my 18th birthday that have been passed down to each girl for 4 generations on their 18th birthday. I definitly wear them and when I was vegan and someone ws looking for something to pick on me about- they always went for that. But whatever, it's a family heirloom. I wouldn't buy them but I'm not giving these up either.

Fake pearls are so pretty and usually you can't tell the difefrence. I have a set that are chunky and gorgeous and totally fake!

[cojo]

Wow, that is one I never even thought about! Thanks for the eye-opener!

I have a bunch of strands but they are several years old.

[TigerLover]

I am not vegan, but vegetarian; however, even when i was an omnivore, the one thing I always told people (including past boyfriends, my parents, etc.) was that I never wanted pearls for Xmas or whatever - although they are lovely and delicate. Only something of such beauty could come from the sea. I thinks it's aweful though the way pearls are extracted from their host. Just like I never ate lobster or crab. I hate that lobsters are technically boiled alive, and I don't like the idea of some little clam having his jaws pried open for a pearl.

When I was 16 I bought a pearl ring for my sister for Xmas. I didn't know at that time where pearls came from. I found out later and never purchased another.

Fakes are okay. I had a pair of pink fake pearls once, and now they're getting better at manufacturing fakes, they don't peel like they used to and look very real. Also, I just prefer colored things as opposed to the white-ish/silvery color of the pearl. I like emeralds and rubies, Madagascar rubies, champaigne diamonds, etc. Imagine how horified I was to find out about "blood diamonds." Something I wasn't aware of until the move Blood Diamond with Leo DiCaprio came out. Wow!...

But, no, even as an omni I never purchased pearls nor would I want someone to give me some pearls. But, I think if I had a real set that were a family heirloom as someone here does, I think I would at least display them. We have to remember how long ago 4 generations is and they were not as aware then as we are today of cruelty and also, those pearls are of high monetary value, being antique, and she be welled cared for. I think I would cheerish an heirloom of that sort.

But as for buying them, it's just always been a personal choice for me my whole life - well, since 16, I'm 38 now, and had nothing to do vegetarianism.

[nothingtosee]

I was given a strand of pearls for Christmas when I was vegan, and I still have them, but the idea of wearing them grosses me out. I didn't want to get rid of them, since they are pretty, but I'm thinking of pawning them. Yes, it will allow someone else to purchase an animal product, but at least these pearls have already been removed, therefore saving some new oysters the pain.

[Jimdavis]

Don't we really need to know what the rest of your outfit looks like before we can answer this?

[Sevenseas]

No, vegans don't wear pearls.

[Mr. Sun]

Pearls don't come up into conversations as much as leather/wool/fur does. But yes, if you're vegan and avoid leather/wool/fur you should add in silk, pearls, feathers, ivory, bone and so on to that list.

*Mr. Sun quickly changes his outfit*

Hey, no one ever told me!