From the azure blue lagoons of French Polynesia (Tahiti) and The Cook Islands, come the world’s most beautiful pearls. One hundred times more rare than white pearls, 100% organic beauty, Black Pearls are considered to be one of the rarest gems on Earth.
100 Times More Rare Than White Pearls
Although they are called Black Pearls, the colors range from iridescent emerald green, sea green, pale silver blue, melon, peach-copper, pink, cranberry, bordeaux, indigo and aubergine, to dark green and deep midnight black. Shimmering, iridescent, exotic and rare, Black Pearls are the ultimate gift of love and romance.
The Black Lipped Oyster
Tahitian Black Pearls are born of the giant black-lipped oyster (the Pinctada Margaritifera). Lovingly tended on private Tahitian island atolls, the Tahitian Black Pearl grows in the shell for two to five years before it is carefully harvested. Black Pearls are prized for their large size, glorious luster, and rainbow of colors.
Luster, Shape, Size, Orient, Color, Surface are the six criteria used for evaluating black pearls for their rarity and perfection, Each is graded on individual basis.
Luster and Shape
Always look for luster first when selecting a Black Pearl. The Luster is the reflective surface shine, the highly mirror-like quality. The better the luster the higher the quality pearl.
Black Pearls come in a wide range of natural shapes ranging from pear-shaped, tear-drop, button, mushroom, acorn, barrel, and baroque shapes. All the shapes of black pearls are considered desirable and marketable. Round pearls are harder for the oyster to create and therefore they are more rare and more expensive.
Size
Next is the size, which is one of the most important criteria for evaluating black pearls. “The largest Black Pearl we have ever seen was 23mm, the size of a small bird egg!” says Petra Halder from e-blackpearl.com.
Orient
The Orient is the heart and soul of the pearl. The Orient is defined as the way the pearl reflects and decomposes light through aragonite crystals. The Orient is the play of light penetrating the surface, the depth of color and light that can be observed by looking past the reflective lustrous surface and into the many layers of pearl material or nacre. Each layer reflects light and creates the illuminating glow reflecting light from within the pearl. The best way to observe orient is to hold the pearl in front of a neutral background such as a white shell. As light shines into the pearl, the eye is able to see past the surface color and to the colors of each layer of nacre that surrounds the pearl.
Color
Tahitian Black Pearls come in a rainbow of beautiful natural colors. Each color is special, and each is sought after by collectors. The most important factor in selecting color is to determine which color looks best on the wearer. The colors comes alive on different skin tones and complexions. All pearls have an under-color ranging from pale silver to dark black. Often, there will also be a layering of iridescent hues in addition to the under color. These shimmering colors can be peach, copper, pink, sea green, turquoise blue, peacock green, burgundy and bordeaux, indigo and navy, purple and lavender to canary and cranberry to deep midnight black.
Surface
The outer skin of the pearl may be analyzed for smoothness and perfection to determine the “beauty-marks” or imperfections of the pearl. Every pearl will have some tiny “surface marks” which add to the character and personality of each pearl. Most birthmarks are imperceptible to the naked eye and give the pearl character. The beauty marks help to determine if the pearl is “real”, i.e. a natural color natural shape cultured gem. Simulated pearls, Faux pearls and beads will have a perfectly smooth surface.
Black Pearls 101
Tahitian Black Pearls
From the azure blue lagoons of French Polynesia (Tahiti) and The Cook Islands, come the world’s most beautiful pearls. One hundred times more rare than white pearls, 100% organic beauty, Black Pearls are considered to be one of the rarest gems on Earth.
100 Times More Rare Than White Pearls
Although they are called Black Pearls, the colors range from iridescent emerald green, sea green, pale silver blue, melon, peach-copper, pink, cranberry, bordeaux, indigo and aubergine, to dark green and deep midnight black. Shimmering, iridescent, exotic and rare, Black Pearls are the ultimate gift of love and romance.
The Black Lipped Oyster
Tahitian Black Pearls are born of the giant black-lipped oyster (the Pinctada Margaritifera). Lovingly tended on private Tahitian island atolls, the Tahitian Black Pearl grows in the shell for two to five years before it is carefully harvested. Black Pearls are prized for their large size, glorious luster, and rainbow of colors.
Luster, Shape, Size, Orient, Color, Surface are the six criteria used for evaluating black pearls for their rarity and perfection, Each is graded on individual basis.
Luster and Shape
Always look for luster first when selecting a Black Pearl. The Luster is the reflective surface shine, the highly mirror-like quality. The better the luster the higher the quality pearl.
Black Pearls come in a wide range of natural shapes ranging from pear-shaped, tear-drop, button, mushroom, acorn, barrel, and baroque shapes. All the shapes of black pearls are considered desirable and marketable. Round pearls are harder for the oyster to create and therefore they are more rare and more expensive.
Size
Next is the size, which is one of the most important criteria for evaluating black pearls. “The largest Black Pearl we have ever seen was 23mm, the size of a small bird egg!” says Petra Halder from e-blackpearl.com.
Orient
The Orient is the heart and soul of the pearl. The Orient is defined as the way the pearl reflects and decomposes light through aragonite crystals. The Orient is the play of light penetrating the surface, the depth of color and light that can be observed by looking past the reflective lustrous surface and into the many layers of pearl material or nacre. Each layer reflects light and creates the illuminating glow reflecting light from within the pearl. The best way to observe orient is to hold the pearl in front of a neutral background such as a white shell. As light shines into the pearl, the eye is able to see past the surface color and to the colors of each layer of nacre that surrounds the pearl.
Color
Tahitian Black Pearls come in a rainbow of beautiful natural colors. Each color is special, and each is sought after by collectors. The most important factor in selecting color is to determine which color looks best on the wearer. The colors comes alive on different skin tones and complexions. All pearls have an under-color ranging from pale silver to dark black. Often, there will also be a layering of iridescent hues in addition to the under color. These shimmering colors can be peach, copper, pink, sea green, turquoise blue, peacock green, burgundy and bordeaux, indigo and navy, purple and lavender to canary and cranberry to deep midnight black.
Surface
The outer skin of the pearl may be analyzed for smoothness and perfection to determine the “beauty-marks” or imperfections of the pearl. Every pearl will have some tiny “surface marks” which add to the character and personality of each pearl. Most birthmarks are imperceptible to the naked eye and give the pearl character. The beauty marks help to determine if the pearl is “real”, i.e. a natural color natural shape cultured gem. Simulated pearls, Faux pearls and beads will have a perfectly smooth surface.