White pearls have long been admired as a sophisticated addition to any jewelry wardrobe and black pearls have been growing in popularity since the 1980’s due to their exotic, elegant and refreshing look. Black pearls are found in the Cook Islands of the South Pacific and the most common among them are from Tahiti.
Natural black pearls are extremely rare and are found in only one out of every ten thousand mollusks. White pearls and black pearls are cultured, grafted and harvested every 18-24 months as the thickness of the pearl’s nacre grows to wearable durability. White pearls are typically cultured for a period of five to six months. Black pearls are expensive, eye-catching and known for their unique luster. Black pearls come in different hues and some of the more popular black pearls are the “peacock green” variety, commanding a hefty price tag.
Tahitian pearls commonly have a gunmetal grey color and their luminescence is due to the secretions from the multi-colored cultured mother-of-pearl. Black pearls, like white pearls, can also be synthetically made and are sold for a much lower cost to consumers. Synthetic pearls are not nearly as beautiful and they tend to loose their color with time. A black pearl will grow larger than a white pearl because larger mollusks are used for cultivation.
The classification of black pearls and white pearls is marked by a grading system of A-D, with AAA being the highest grade of pearl. The quality of your black or white pearls should be discussed with your jeweler before purchasing. There are four criteria to consider when purchasing black or white pearls; color/hue, shape, size and surface. Cleaning your black or white pearls follows the same simple procedure of using mild soap and water. When a consumer takes proper care of black and white pearls, it is possible that they will last a lifetime and continue to shine.
