Cultivated primarily around the islands of French Polynesia the most familiar of these is Tahiti. These saltwater cultured pearls, sometimes referred to as black pearls, have a wide color range.
They might be gray, black or brown, and they can have blue, green, purple or pink overtones. Freshwater cultured pearls are the most commonly produced pearls and they are one of the most popular pearl types among shoppers and jewelry designers.
This is due to their remarkable range of sizes, shapes and colors, plus their commercial availability at lower price points. They are usually cultured in freshwater lakes and ponds, often with many pearls grown in one oyster. China is the leading source for freshwater cultured pearls. Pearl Description. Blue pearls are very rare and have a beautiful iridescence about them.
They are generally thought perfect for a person going through a tough time and who needs courage and strength. Gold is synonymous with wealth, class and prosperity. It is not for nothing that gold pearls are among the most expensive! They are the ideal way to demonstrate class, prestige and a touch of sophistication! Often called chocolate pearls, brown pearls are a steady and enduring color.
Brown pearls represent dependability, stability and harmony. Almost all pearls on the market, whether freshwater or saltwater, are subjected to some form of treatment to enhance the color and appearance. Here are some treatments that are done on pearls:. Pearls are sometimes dyed to obtain beautiful and rare colors that customers seek. These include black and gold, to mimic the appearance of Tahitian and Golden south sea pearls. Pearl manufacturers often dye pearls to satisfy the requirements of certain markets.
For example, in the US, Americans prefer pearls that have pink overtones, Indians prefer cream colored pearls while Germans go for white pearls. To supply for these markets, pearl farmers often dye their pearls. Once pearls have been extracted, they are often polished in a saline solution and then bleached to achieve a perfect white color. This treatment is quite common in the industry, especially in relation to South Sea pearls. This a method where gamma rays are used to influence the color of pearls and has different effects on saltwater and freshwater pearls.
This technique is used in Akoya saltwater pearls to darken the nucleus of the pearl, thus creating a more unique and valuable pearl color. With freshwater pearls, the gamma rays are used to darken the layers of nacre of the pearl. Irradiating pearls can also cause a beautiful, metallic shine to appear over the surface of freshwater pearls.
This is done through a dying process that gives the pearl a pinkish overtone. Because pink pearls, or pearls with pink overtones, are highly sought after, pearl cultivators keep up with the demand in this way.
Women and men have worn and loved white pearls because of their subtle elegance and versatility. Akoya pearls are the most popular white pearl type. Cultured in Japan, China and sometimes Vietnam using the Pinctada fucata martensii saltwater oyster. Akoya pearls range in size from 2mm up to 11mm 9. Important: For the highest quality pearls , insist on Japanese Akoya pearls. White Freshwater pearls are the second most popular white pearl type. Cultured in China using the Hyriopsis cumingii pearl mussel, Freshwater pearls range in size from 2.
White South Sea pearls are the third most popular pearl type - and the most expensive. Cultured in Australia using the silver-lipped Pinctada maxima saltwater oyster, these are considered the "queen of gems".
These luxurious pearls range in size from 8. Dark and exotic, black pearls have captured the imagination of men and women around the world for centuries. A hundred times more rare than white pearls, black pearls have been imbued with all kinds of mythical properties and lore.
Tahitian pearls are one of only two naturally-colored black pearls in the world. Tahitian pearls are cultured in the Pinctada margaritifera saltwater pearl oyster in French Polynesia, and range in size from 8.
The pearls feature primary body colors ranging from pale dove grey to dark charcoal grey to near jet black hues. Cultured in Japan and China using the Pinctada fucata martensii saltwater oyster, Black Akoya pearls range in size from 6. Black Akoya pearls are easily distinguished by their near jet-black and very uniformly matched body colors. Black Freshwater pearls are color-treated, usually dyed. Cultured in China using the Hyriopsis cumingii pearl mussel, Freshwater pearls range in size from 6.
Sea of Cortez pearls are the only other naturally-colored "black" pearls in the world. Cultured in Guyamas, Mexico, they're also the most rare cultured pearl type today. Sea of Cortez pearls are cultired in the Ptera sterna, the Rainbow-lipped saltwater oyster. Sea of Cortez pearls also feature primary body colors of pale to dark greys. Opulent, luxurious and best of all, naturally colored, Golden South Sea pearls are some of the largest and rarest cultured pearls in the world.
Ranging in color from pale Champagne to intense 24K golden hues, these cultured pearls hail from the tropical lagoons and atolls of the Philippine Islands and Australia. Pearls featuring the 14K Medium-Deep Golden hue are among the most common body colors available today. Shimmering with Neutral Gold or Rose overtones, these Golden pearls look great on the largest array of complexions. Golden South Sea pearls featuring the 22K to 24K hues are the rarest and most valuable all other factors being equal.
Champagne Golden South Sea pearls are very rare. The Champagne color is a mix of very pale, 10K gold, Silver and Rose hues. It is a very light color, very unique and rare and great for us blondes! Naturally colored pink pearls are cultured in the Freshwater pearl mussel, Hyriopsis cumingii along with various hybrid mussels bred to produce unique colors and sizes in freshwater aquaculture ponds on China.
Each Freshwater pearl mussel can be nucleated up to 25 times on each side of the shell, making for a stunningly colorful harvest. They range from pale peach to apricot orange-ish to pale baby pinks and deeper true-pink hues.
Silvery-pinks and mauves are also included in this gorgeous palette. Pink Freshwater pearls range from pastel baby pinks to deeper hot pinks and corals. Peach Freshwater pearls range from pale peaches to deeper orangey and apricot colors. Freshwater pearls are seldom round, as the implant used is tissue from a "donor," rather than a round piece of shell, which is used as the irritant in saltwater pearls.
However, for this reason, freshwater pearls are much more durable. No history of pink pearls would be complete without mentioning the Pink Pearl eraser by Eberhard Faber.
Apparently, the company had a habit of naming its erasers after pencils it had created. When the Pink Pearl came around, the company was making a pencil called the "Pearl" for F. Woolworth Company. Since the eraser was pink, the resulting name became "Pink Pearl.
Chris Carson has been writing professionally since , specializing in topics such as cats, jewelry, history and English. Her articles have appeared in "Best Friends Magazine" and on various websites. By: Chris Carson. How Rare Is a Black Pearl?
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