The Mystery Behind Black Pearls!

Whereas the typical strand of pearls features off-white AAA orbs of 10 mm freshwater perfection, there are some pieces of jewelry that incorporate black pearls rather than their white kissing cousins. Their luster and coloration gives these pearls a mysterious appearance, which turns plenty of ordinary jewels into showstoppers. When combined with blackened gold, diamonds and red rubies, black pearls easily hold their own in appearance. White pearls usually sell for about $15 per orb. Black pearls, on the other hand, go for about $140 per perfect orb.

The formation of a black pearl is species-specific and labor intensive. Tahiti’s Pinctada margaritifera, also known as the Tahitian black-lipped oyster, features an interior shell that is black. This species has been used since 1966 for the production of cultured black pearls. The laborious process involves the harvesting of larvae, the cultivation of juvenile oysters, the implantation of irritants and the harvests of the finished products after a few years. During this time, the oysters must be protected from predators known to infiltrate oyster farms where they find easy meals suspended from strings or hung in nets.

Other oysters naturally produce these highly desirable orbs. They are found off Peru, Panama and the Philippines. Finding these naturally grown black oysters is rare and requires judicious diving in just the right areas. Since there are valid concerns over the destruction of reefs and the over-fishing associated with the removal of potentially black pearl carrying oysters, the practice has become frowned upon. This has led to an emphasis on the farm-raised and cultured pearl industry.

It is interesting to note that there can be subtle color differences depending on the development site of the pearl. As you know, a pearl forms when an irritant affects an oyster’s body. The animal counteracts the irritation with continued deposits of calcium carbonate, which then coats the irritant. If the irritant is implanted close to the oyster’s lips, the color of the pearl will be darker. If it is closer to a lighter part of the shell, this, too, will affect the hue of the calcium carbonate as it surrounds the irritant. Other factors that influence coloration include impurities in the water and the amount of time the pearl is allowed for formation.

Since there is something mysterious and different about black pearls, jewelers have found methods of artificially dying off-white specimens. Some use silver nitrate and ammonia for a brief pearl soak. Expertly done dye jobs are difficult to distinguish from the real thing. If you are in the market for a gorgeous black pearl necklace and want to ensure the authenticity of the color, ask to see the item under U.V. lighting. Dyed pearls have no fluorescence while authentic black pearls have a weak reddish glow.

At Peter Suchy Jewelers, we often are lucky to receive estate and vintage black pearl jewelry so we invite you to stop by our showroom located at 1137 High Ridge Road in Stamford Connecticut.

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