Black Pearls

Believed by many to harness the exquisite powers of night, black pearls are a stunning alternative to their white counterparts. Some cultures used these pearls in magical spells and the foreseeing of the future. Asian emperors and empresses wore large black pearls as symbols of their dominance.

Though pearl farms harvest thousands of black-lip mollusks a year in the manufacture of these pearls, an average 1 percent of the yearly harvest will produce high quality black pearls.

As with any gemstone, black pearl prices vary with size and quality. A perfectly round, smooth, flawless and radiant pearl with a good depth of color can fetch a much higher price than a similar pearl with only one or two defects.

Most black pearls measure between eight and twelve millimeters across. The rare and most valuable black pearls measure between 12 and 20 millimeters across. Black pearls form in a variety of shapes including round, oval and irregular.

Black pearls come in many shades of black. The most common are the black or gray variety, although overtone colors can come in shades such as metallic blue, silver, gold and gray-pink. The most coveted and valuable overtone colors are shades of peacock green, eggplant and rainbow.

The luster of a black pearl is more important than the color. When looking for a quality black pearl, look for surface imperfections and the luster. The pearl should have visible imperfections on less than two-thirds of the surface to ensure the pearl shines, sparkles and reflects the light.