Colors of Pearls - Colored Pearls Guide - White, Pink, Blue, Black, Gold, Grey & Multi-Color

Pearl Colors – The Buyer's Guide to Choosing the Ideal Color
If you want to buy pearls, you should know that they come in so many gorgeous colors, one of which is bound to be an ideal match for your personal style and coloring. Some pearls are naturally-white or naturally other shades, from pale gray to black and beyond! There are cultured pearls which are treated after being harvested and this alters their natural color.

Today, we'd like to share information about the different tones of pearls which are available and which types of pearls come in certain natural shades. Once you've learned these useful facts, you'll be one step closer to selecting pearls which are just right for you!

White Pearls Are THE Classic
South Sea pearls and Akoya pearls come in classic white. They are lustrous, milky and so beautiful. It's safe to say that these cultured pearls are the most popular shade all over the world. No matter what skin tone a woman has, they tend to enhance it with their creamy luminosity.

They are understated, due to their lack of color, so they are versatile enough to accent many different types of outfits. Freshwater pearls, which are more affordable than South Sea and Akoya pearls, are also available in pure white.

Naturally-white cultured pearls often have overtones. For example, you should be able to spot a touch of pink, a hint of off-white (a vanilla or ivory undertone) and/or silver.
Pearls which are white after being cultured may come in sizes as small as one to two millimeters. These are seed pearls and you'll find them used as embellishments on fancy gowns, such as wedding dresses and formal evening gowns. Of course, they also run larger, it's possible to buy naturally-white pearls which are up to twenty millimeters in diameter.

White is a symbol of purity. This is why so many brides-to-be don pearl jewelry before they walk down the aisle.

Black Pearls are Dramatic Choices
If you prefer something darker and more exotic, then black pearls may be just what you're looking for. These striking pearls have intrigued people for thousands of years. For every hundred white pearls, there is one black pearl, so black pearls do have rarity which makes them coveted and collectible.

Only Tahitian cultured pearls and Sea of Cortez cultured pearls are naturally black. All other black pearls have been treated after harvesting, usually with dye, in order to become very dark. Tahitian black pearls come from French Polynesia and Sea of Cortez black pearls come from Guyamas, Mexico. Other black pearls which are dyed are typically Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls.

These black pearls are mysterious and stunning and they do have overtones which give them more depth and shimmer. The most common overtones for these dark pearls are blue-green, silver, copper, aquamarine, peacock (a mixture of rose, gold and green), green and rose. Overtones will vary in terms of hue and intensity.

In general, pearls of the Sea of Cortez and Tahitian types measure at least eight millimeters in diameter and may be as large of sixteen millimeters or even bigger!
Black pearls do have a lot of lore attached to them. For example, in the lore of Polynesia, a god named Ono descended from the celestial realm, via a rainbow, in order to give his adored princess black pearls. They were the first black pearls ever seen and, within their inky depths, all of the colors of the rainbow could be spied. Black pearls and their iridescence, which reveals so many colorful undertones, remains legendary today. 

Golden Pearls are Warm and Flattering
If you love opulence, you may wish to treat yourself to golden pearls. What could be more decadent and rich? Naturally-golden pearls are South Sea pearls and they are relatively large in scale, but they are quite rare. They range in tone from the palest champagne to twenty-four karat shades. These pearls are harvested from the atolls and lagoons of Australia and the Philippine Islands.

Typical overtones of golden pearls are silver, rose, neutral (yellow), green, bronze and champagne. In terms of size, you'll find these South Sea pearls in sizes from nine millimeters to sixteen millimeters and up.

If you believe in the magical properties of pearls, you'll be pleased to know that this shade of pearls is believed to bring the person who wears golden pearls plenty of prosperity and wealth.

In Chinese art, dragons are often holding golden pearls in their jaws or in their claws, dragons are known for being a sign of good fortune!

Peach and Pink Pearls
Pearls which are naturally-pink or peach are cultivated via the pearl mussel in Freshwater. The scientific name of this pearl mussel is Hyriopsis cumingii, hybrid mussels are sometimes used in order to make interesting shapes and sizes. Pink and peach pearls are created in China, in aquaculture pods which are filled with freshwater. Each pearl mussel may be nucleated as many as twenty-five times on each shell side.

These feminine and refined pearls have overtones which may be gold, rose, aquamarine and green. Peach and pink pearls come in a variety of sizes from four millimeters to twelve millimeters, the average size of these pearls is six to nine-and-half millimeters. Today, cultured pearl processes are evolving and the newest techniques tend to produce some very large Freshwater pearls which are bead-nucleated. For example, the Edison style of pearl may measure from fourteen to sixteen millimeters.
If you're interested in choosing peach or pink pearls, you may wish to choose yellow gold settings for them, yellow gold will bring out the warmer tones in these pearls and make them appear simmerer. White gold isn't as commonly paired with pink and peach pearls, however rules are made to be broken, so be sure to get exactly what you want. White gold will bring out the cooler undertones in these pearls.

Are Lavender Pearls Right for You?
Pearls which are naturally-lavender are grown within the pearl mussel (Hyriopsis cumingii). Pearl mussels of this type are looked after within aquaculture ponds of the freshwater type within China. China also has aquaculture lakes where these pearls are cultivated. A pearl harvest of this type may include up to twenty-five nucleated processes per shell side, and this leads to colorful and pleasing results! White, lavender, peach and pink pearls are produced with this intensive pearl cultivation method.

With freshwater pearls of the lavender type, you may notice cool overtones, such as green and aquamarine. Rose and gold iridescence may also be noticeable. Freshwater pearls of this type come in sizes from four millimeters to twelve millimeters, average sizes are six to nine and a half millimeters but there can be very big pearls which measure from thirteen to sixteen millimeters. They are usually produced via the Edison type of process (bead-nucleated). Lavender pearls look wonderful in white gold settings, these settings are definitely the most popular choices for these types of pearls and white gold brings out a range of beautiful overtones, including green, aquamarine and blue. When yellow gold is utilized in a setting, it offers a higher degree of contrast and helps to bring out rose or gold overtones.
Discover the Magic of Blue Pearls
If you want pearls which are unique and rare, you'll find that blue pearls are the appropriate choices. These pearls are wondrous to behold and they come in a range of tones, from soothing sky blue to inky midnight blue and beyond with widely varied overtones. Blue pearls which are naturally blue are not common and only certain forms of pearls come in blue hues, they are the Akoyas, South Seas, Tahitians and Sea of Cortez pearls. Overtones for Akoya pearls which are naturally-blue are rose, violet, aquamarine and blue, while Tahitian blue pearls and Sea of Cortez pearls may have a host of overtones, including teal, violet, Cerulean, green and blue-green.
Blue pearls have a wide array of sizes, for example the Akoya varieties may measure between seven and a half to nine and a half millimeters, while South Sea pearls which are silver-blue may measure between nine and sixteen millimeters and up. The blue Sea of Cortez pearls are available in sizes from eight to eleven millimeters, Tahitian blue pearls range in size from eight to fourteen millimeters.

Akoya blue pearls which are produced within Vietnam and Japan are believed to get their unique color due a metabolic problem which occurs during cultivation.

Are Chocolate Pearls Right for You?
These pearls are trendy at the moment and a range of designers, including Erica Courtney, favor chocolate pearls for fancy, red carpet-worthy jewelry designs. Chocolate pearls which are Tahitian may be naturally brown or they may be treated in order to become this rich color. If you're going to invest in these pearls, we think that finding natural ones will be more fulfilling for you!

Freshwater pearls may also be treated in order to take on this fashionable hue.
In terms of overtones, you'll spot green, bronze, rose and gold hues in these pearls, the base color of the pearls may range from milk chocolate to dark chocolate. Sizes of these pearls range from nine to fourteen millimeters, most range in size between ten to twelve millimeters. Pair them with yellow gold in order to bring out warm overtones while white gold will add contrast. However, a white gold setting is best for the darker chocolate pearls which have green overtones.

Enjoy Variety with Multi-color Pearls
This term defines the design layout of pearls, rather than their natural or treated colors. For example, pearls used in multi-color jewelry designs may be one type, such as Tahitian, or a variety of types. South Sea Pearls, multi-colored Tahitian pearls and multi-hued Freshwater pearls may be chosen in Baroque or round shapes and they may range in size from six to sixteen millimeters. Choose settings which enhance the shade and undertones of these pearls.

Now that you know everything about choosing the ideal shade, why not treat yourself to beautiful pearls today? They are a great investment and they will be cherished for a lifetime.
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