Pearl color has three parts: body color (the dominant shade), overtone (the translucent tint floating over it) and orient (the iridescent shimmer on high-nacre pearls).
Naturally occurring colors
- White — the most versatile, ranging from cool white to warm cream.
- Pink — soft rose tones from the mussel''s own pigmentation; flattering on cool and neutral skin.
- Peach — warm apricot to soft orange, gorgeous with gold and warm complexions.
- Lavender — pale violet with silver or pink overtones, one of the most distinctive freshwater colors.
Treated colors
Black, deep grey, chocolate, gold and peacock freshwater pearls are almost always dyed or irradiated. Treatment is standard, stable and completely legitimate as long as it is disclosed. Reputable sellers say so plainly.
Multicolor strands
A multicolor strand blends white, pink, peach and lavender pearls from the same harvest. It is the easiest pearl piece to wear casually because it reads as texture rather than formalwear.
Choosing your color
Cool undertones tend to look best in white, silver-overtone and lavender pearls. Warm undertones glow in peach, cream and gold. If you are unsure, a multicolor strand hedges beautifully.
