About Pearls - A Color Just for You

Tahitian Black Pearls

Tahitian Black Pearls

Exotic. The Tahitian cultured pearl, commonly called the black pearl, comes from the shimmering lagoons surrounding the seductive islands of Tahiti, French Polynesia. The metallic colors are dark and bewitching: black, gray, green, blue, aubergine. Tahitian pearls are generally 8-16 millimeters in size and are rarely perfectly round. Color and luster tend to be the most important qualities in judging black pearls; their unusual shapes and dramatic tones lend a mystical element that bespeaks the magical waters from which they came. A AAA Tahitian black pearl is arresting; they bring glamor and allure to any pearl collection.

Tahitian Black Pearls are one of most popular pearl types today. The wide range of colors cater to individual taste. While no single pearl color is "best" or most valuable (although "peacock green" is in high demand!), high luster pearls are always more valuable pearls. Black pearls also tend to cost more than Akoya Cultured Pearls from Japan and Freshwater Pearls from China, but are usually less expensive than the south sea pearls from Australia, Indonesia, or the Philippines.

Golden South Sea Pearls

Golden South Sea Pearls

Glamorous. The newest entry taking the pearl world by storm, Golden South Sea cultured pearls are found near Indonesia and the Philippines. A golden pearl with natural color is considered by many to be the most glamorous and expensive of all pearl varieties, with an impressive size ranging from 9-17 millimeters. The yellow pearl grandeur commands attention and they are highly prized among pearl lovers. Golden South Sea pearls generally range in color from champagne to gold, with the deeper gold pearl colors commanding a high premium. Shapes vary, and few are perfectly round, particularly when compared with Akoya cultured pearls. However, their rare colors, combined with impressive size and stunning luster, make golden pearls truly magnificent gems which are well-suited to the top elements of pearl society.

Golden pearls tend to be even more valuable than their white cousins. Golden pearls are the latest trend in exotic south seas pearls - so new, in fact, that most people have never even heard of a gold pearl, let alone held one up close. For this reason, Golden South Sea Pearls are very popular today and demand is high.

White South Sea Pearls

White South Sea Pearls

Exclusive. White South Sea cultured pearls are found in the warm waters near Australia. The warm and calm conditions help the oysters produce large white pearls. The look of south sea pearls is big and bold, and these pearls have a satin-like luster. They are best known for their impressive size: an extraordinary 9-17 millimeters. Their mass underscores their strength; these pearls are meant to be cherished for generations.

South Sea pearls generally range in color from silver-white to gold and are naturally lustrous. Shapes vary significantly, and few are perfectly round, particularly when compared with their Akoya counterparts. This need not be a drawback, however; their unique shapes, combined with impressive size and stunning luster, make for truly magnificent gems. Designers around the world incorporate South Sea pearls in creating unique pieces that never fail to make a statement.

Akoya Cultured Pearls

Akoya Pearls

Classic. Akoya cultured pearls hail from waters off Japan and China and have come to represent what people consider the "classic" pearl: white, round, and highly lustrous. Unlike other varieties, Akoya pearls receive a little help: their impurities are bleached out, resulting in the enhanced tints for which they are prized. Not all Akoya pearls are white, however; their color range includes champagne, pink, and silver. They are smaller than their south sea pearl cousins, generally ranging from 2-10 millimeters. While a comparatively higher percentage of Akoya pearls are round or near-round, they do in fact come in various shapes.

The classic beauty, simplicity, and versatility of Akoya pearls continue to be universally appreciated and enhance any jewelry collection. This was the first pearl variety to be cultivated commercially at the beginning of the 1900's by Kokichi Mikimoto and others. Also called a cultured pearl, or a Japanese cultured pearl, Akoya pearls are generally considered a "step above" freshwater pearls in price and quality, and are usually seen as a small, round white pearl, or a slightly pink pearl. The akoya pearl is often what comes to mind when someone mentions the word "pearl" - they are classic, timeless, and highly lustrous.

Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater Pearls

Value. Freshwater cultured pearls come primarily from the U.S., Japan, and China, and are known for their extraordinary variety in color, shape, and size. Unlike other types of cultured pearls, Freshwater pearls are cultivated in mussels that live in freshwater rivers and ponds. They are produced in far greater quantities than other cultured pearls, and are consequently significantly less expensive. Their accessibility - combined with natural beauty - has made them highly popular around the world. Sizes of Freshwater pearls range from 2 to 10 millimeters; color range is equally broad, encompassing white, champagne, brown, blue, purple, pink, orange, and others. Perfectly round Freshwater pearls are very rare; however, their nearly unlimited variety of other shapes establishes them as prime candidates for use in creating striking designs. While these pearls are (in general) neither as rare nor as valuable as others, their accessibility lends them a value all their own: Freshwater pearls offer beauty without significant investment.

Other Pearl Types: Keshi Pearls

Unusual. These unique pearls, found in Japan, Australia, French Polynesia, Indonesia and the Philippines, are "accidental" in that they are natural byproducts of the traditional pearl cultivation process. Tiny organisms or fragments are accidentally inserted with the nucleus. These intruders detach and result in the creation of pearls without a man-made nucleus. Keshi pearls thus possess a natural authenticity that commands high prices. They generally measure 4 to 15 millimeters, and come in an array of interesting shapes (though almost never round) and colors. Keshi pearls are prized by pearl lovers for their unique origin and distinctive shapes. They make a fresh addition to any pearl collection.