A GUIDE TO PEARL COLORS


One of the most beautiful things about pearls is their wide range of colors. Whether you're looking for a classic white pearl or something more unique, there's sure to be a pearl color that's perfect for you.


 Here's a guide to some of the most popular pearl colors:


PEARL COLORS AND MEANINGS:


WHITE PEARLS:


White pearls are the most classic and traditional color of pearls. They are often seen as a symbol of purity and innocence, making them a popular choice for bridal jewelry. White pearls come in a range of shades, from bright white to cream or ivory.


The most popular type of white pearl is the Akoya pearl. These pearls are grown in saltwater and range in size from 2mm to 10mm. Akoya pearls have a high luster and a smooth surface, making them ideal for creating classic pearl necklaces and earring designs.


Freshwater pearls are another popular type of white pearl. These pearls are grown in freshwater lakes and rivers, and they can range in size from 2mm to 20mm. Freshwater pearls come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so they can be used to create unique jewelry designs.


Tahitian pearls are another type of white pearl that is becoming increasingly popular. These pearls are grown in the black lagoons of French Polynesia, and they range in size from 8mm to 15mm. Tahitian pearls have a unique color that ranges from green to blue to purple.


White pearls are a classic choice for pearl jewelry, and they come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. Whether you're looking for a traditional Akoya pearl necklace or something more unique, like a Tahitian pearl ring, you're sure to find the perfect white pearl for your jewelry collection.


BLACK PEARLS:



Most black pearl farming is done in the waters around Tahiti. These pearls are grown in large oysters known as Pinctada margaritifera, which are found in the lagoon around the island.


The Tahitian black pearl is not actually black; it is more of a dark gray or greenish-black. This unique color is created by the presence of a compound called reticular pigmentation, which is found in the oyster's tissue.


While black pearl farming, divers usually only find 1 out of 10,000 Tahitian pearls are black. The black pearls' scarcity means that they are often more expensive than other colors of pearl.


GOLDEN PEARLS:


Golden pearls are found in the tropic lagoons of the Philippines, Australia, and Indonesia. Natural gold pearls come in a variety of colors, from delicate champagne to a deep 24K gold. The warm, regal tones of these fine jewels are contributing to their rapid rise in popularity in the pearl jewelry market.


Due to their scarcity, these gold-coloured pearls, which are created by the "gold-lip" South Sea oyster, are quite a prize. A little bit of the oyster's golden mantle tissue and a mother-of-pearl bead is delicately inserted into the oyster by cultured pearl producers. In order for the oysters to create vibrantly colored Golden South Sea pearls, golden mantle tissue must be carefully selected in this delicate process.


Natural gold pearls come in a variety of hues. Gold-coloured pearls are available in 24K gold, champagne, bronze, and silver. Pearl sizes are commonly up to 12mm but are often cultured to be as large as 14mm in diameter.


PINK PEARLS:


When it comes to pearls, pink is definitely one of the most popular colors. And it's not hard to see why: pink pearls are simply gorgeous. They have a romantic, feminine quality that is absolutely irresistible.

Of course, not all pink pearls are created equal. The shade of pink can vary considerably from one pearl to the next. And depending on the exact hue, a pink-coloured pearl can range in price from relatively affordable to extremely expensive.


The overtones you'll most frequently find on a pink-colored pearl include shades of aquamarine, green, gold, and rose.


Sizes for cultured pink to peach freshwater pearls range from 4.0 to 12.0 mm, with 6.0 to 9.5 mm being the usual size. Larger bead-nucleated Freshwater pearls, such "Edison" pearls that typically measure 14.0–16.0mm on average, are being created using more recent cultured pearl processes.


The most common and traditional metal to pair with pink-colored pearls is yellow gold. It intensifies the shine of the pink and golden tones already present on the surface of the pink-colored pearls by "warming" things up. Less frequently used white gold will enhance any aquamarine to green overtones on the pearls.


LAVENDER PEARLS:


Lavender freshwater pearls typically have cooler hues of aquamarine and green as their overtones. Warmer shades of gold and rose may also be present.


Common Freshwater pearl sizes range from 4.0 to 12.0 mm, with the majority of jewelry stores now carrying pearls in the 6.0 to 9.5 mm size range.


The most common and traditional metal to wear with lavender pearls is white gold because it cools the pearls and brings out their exquisite blue, aquamarine, and green overtones. The sharp contrast that yellow gold produces between the pearls and their clasps or mountings is striking to the eye and can help bring out any gold or rose undertones that may be present.


CHOCOLATE PEARLS:


Chocolate pearls, which have a deep brown, almost metallic sheen, are one of the rarest and most fascinating pearl colors. In the fashion industry, these pearls have become quite popular and are highly valued.


Tahitian chocolate pearls are typically natural in hue, but dyed varieties are also available. These pearls reach decent sizes, with the average being 12.0mm in diameter.


BLUE PEARLS:


Blue pearls are extremely rare and come from saltwater oysters. The colors of blue pearls vary from pale blue to vivid, deep blue hues. Natural-occurring blue South Sea pearls are probably the rarest of all naturally occurring pearl colors in the world.


Unlike other pearl types, blue pearls get their color from a metabolic disorder that the mollusk has. While many artificially dyed and enhanced blue pearls are on the market, finding the genuine thing is special and highly valuable.


WHAT INFLUENCES A PEARL'S COLOR?



The color of pearls is almost entirely out of the pearl farming industry's control. Pearl farmers attempt to influence the pearl's hue, but it happens mostly by chance.


There are numerous causes behind the color of a pearl. Here are a few examples:


  • Type of Mollusk – The color of a pearl is determined largely by the inside lining of the nacre on the shell, especially the coloring at the mollusk's lip. The golden South Sea pearl's rich color is due to the gold-lipped Pinctada Maxima, while a black Tahitian pearl's tint comes from the gray-silver pigments of the Pinctada Margaritifera.


  • Location – Location has a significant impact on pearls. The color of a pearl that forms closer to the Pinctada Maxima's golden lip will be deeper than one that forms further inside the shell.
  • Human Manipulation – Various methods are used by pearl farmers to impact the color of their pearls. This color manipulation might include using a different bead in the nucleus to alter the final appearance of their pearls.


  • Quality of Nacre – Because of its superior luster, color, and overtone, thick nacre layers yield a more intense pearl hue than thinner ones. The silver-lipped oyster that creates the famed White South Sea pearls has among the thickest nacre of all the oysters, which results in exceptionally lustrous pearls.


ENHANCING A PEARL'S COLOR


Aside from these points, pearls are subject to a variety of treatments in order to enhance their color. These are standard industry practices and aren't "illegal" or "fraudulent," so there is no need for alarm.
However, some factors (like dyeing) have a significant impact on the final appearance of the pearl, so double-check to see whether the pearl you're looking at has any color modifications applied to it.


PEARL PINKING:


Pearls are frequently "pinked" to create a rosy overtone, which is one of the most popular colors for white pearls. Pinking is simply a kind of dyeing and an attempt to keep up with the huge appetite in the marketplace for pink pearls.


IRRADIATION:


This scientific approach enables pearl farmers to alter the color of pearls through gamma rays. Irradiation is more effective on Akoya pearls because the pearl's nucleus gets darker, resulting in a nicer hue. Irradiation has the opposite effect on freshwater pearls: it tends to darken the nacre layers. Irradiating also enhances the sheen of the pearl and gives it a more metallic appearance.


POLISHING+BLEACHING:


This well-known method of polishing pearls involves immersing them in a saline solution and then applying a brief bleaching treatment to make them white. This process removes any minor flaws or imperfections on the pearl's surface. It's quite prevalent among South Sea pearls.


DYEING:


Pearl dyeing is the simplest method to change a pearl's hue. The majority of colored freshwater and Akoya pearls on the market have a dye treatment applied to them, particularly the black pearls. Freshwater pearls are simple to color because of their softer nacre, whereas South Sea pearls require much more time and money.


WHAT ARE NATURAL PEARL COLORS?


Natural pearl colors vary, from white to black. The most popular pearl colors are white and cream, but you can also find natural pearls in shades of pink, purple, blue, gold, and even black.


WHAT IS THE RAREST PEARL COLOR?


The rarest pearl color is undoubtedly natural blue pearls. They command a high price, especially if they're South Sea or Tahitian blue pearls.


WHAT PEARL COLOR SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?



There's no simple answer to this. Instead, you may want to consider your skin tone, budget, and jewelry style while selecting pearl jewelry.


  • Specific colors like white and ivory tend to flatter all complexions. However, certain hues seem to look better on particular skin tones. Gold pearls, for example, look fantastic on tanned to dark skin tones, while champagne (light gold) pearls flatter light-skinned individuals.


  • In terms of price, South Sea and Tahitian pearls are far more expensive than Akoya and freshwater. Freshwater is usually the most affordable pearl option.


  • Finally, what kind of jewelry do you prefer? Choose white or rose pearls if you like conventional, classic jewelry pieces. If you're going for a more avant-garde, modern look, consider black or gold pearls to make a statement.


CONCLUSION:


Now that you know a little more about pearl colors and their meanings, you can start shopping for the perfect piece of jewelry for yourself or a loved one. Keep in mind that pearls are unique gems, so no two are exactly alike. So when shopping for pearls, look for those with a good luster and are free of blemishes. Also, be sure to ask the jeweler about the quality of the pearl and its origin.