Rub the pearls to check surface feel Both natural and cultured pearls have textured surface due to their layered nacre structure. So when you rub the pearls lightly against each other or on your front teeth, they feel a little gritty. Fake or imitation pearls, however, usually feel smooth or glassy.
How are natural pearls identified? Natural pearls have a thicker nacre or “skin” when compared to cultured pearls. When held against a concentrated light source, a pearl with a thick nacre will show concentric growth lines, where layer after layer of nacre was added over time as described above.
Judging Black Pearls
A buyer should consider color, luster, size, surface quality, nacre thickness and shape when choosing pearls. Color: It's natural to assume that a black pearl is black, but that is not always, or even typically, the case.
Simply take the pearl, and gently rub it along the surface of your tooth. If the pearls are real, you'll feel a grittiness similar to sandpaper. In other words, there will be a great deal of friction. If the pearls are fake, on the other hand, it will feel smooth as with plastic or glass.
Tahitian Gem Grade Pearls
Gem Grade Tahitian Black Pearls are special pearls which display the highest value of every factor. These pearls represent less than 3% of the pearl harvest and are therefore extremely rare.
Tahitian pearls are known for being the world's finest black pearls. These pearls dazzle with rich, colorful overtones and large, luxury tier sizes.
The most highly prized Black pearls are those of the iridescent Peacock, Green, and Blue colors, followed by Dark Black, Grays and Eggplant. The Peacock, Green and Blue colors are extremely rare and difficult to supply. The most common color, which still commands top value is Black Green.
A true black Tahitian pearl is extremely rare, and largely considered one of the most beautiful kinds of pearls in the world. Most Tahitian pearls that are identified as “black” are actually charcoal grey, silver, or dark green.
Pearls with particular brand names will also retain (and even increase) their value over the years; vintage Mikimoto Akoya pearls that still have their original clasp, box and papers to establish provenance are very highly sought after today and continue to fetch premium resale values.
In general, there're 7 factors that affect the pearl value: shape, size, colour, lustre, surface quality, nacre quality and matching. Like the 4Cs of diamond valuation, the pearl's 7 value factors are created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to standardise pearl grading systems.
When drilled, real Tahitian pearl have a rough surface and irregularities, it has a thin layer surface and inside the White nucleus inside the pearl but fake pearls have a smooth surface and perfectly round drill holes.
The characteristic iridescent sheen from the lustrous surface of either of the dark Pearls shimmers like oil on pavement. Variations in these body colors and overtones lead to an impressive pallet of possible colors, with peacock overtones among the most valuable.
The important distinction with these types of pearls is that black is not a naturally occurring color, and the dark colorations are achieved through the use of an organic dye. Black freshwater and black akoya pearls do not naturally. The color is always the product of treatment.
A natural black pearl is more expensive and mysterious than its classic off-white cousins. And for good reason: Although manufacturers can dye pearls black, it takes extremely rare conditions to form pearls that have that dark, eerily iridescent glow.
The price of a Tahitian pearl depends on several factors. First, its color: the darker the pearl, the higher its price. Then comes the size: depending on the diameter, the cost increases.
As white pearls are by far the most common, they are generally considered less expensive than black pearls. However, their value is actually determined by how and where they are produced, their shape and size, and their lustre.
Pearls are soft and are highly susceptible to damage, therefore they should be worn with care. Avoid wearing pearl bracelets and rings everyday as they can easily get scratched. Remove them before taking a shower, cleaning or using cosmetic products.
Given their size, luster, value and color, black pearl necklaces are usually worn in more formal situations. The traditional etiquette says they are not meant to be flashy. On the contrary, they are meant to suggest dignity, seduction, art and elegance.
Exotic black pearls from the Pinctada margaritifera or Black-lip pearl oyster, are more commonly known as Tahitian pearls. These pearls are often referred to as black, but have a remarkable color range that covers the spectrum - from light, creamy white and grey, to regal greens, iridescent peacock and deep black.
Six Grading Factors
Surface Quality: Clean-Very Light Blemished (A), Light Blemished (B), Moderately Blemished (C), Heavily Blemished (D). Luster: Very high (AAA), High (AA), Medium (A), Soft (B). Nacre Thickness: Thick, Thin.
Black Pearls Are Symbols of Power Prosperity and Eternal Love. Black Pearls, being highly sought after for centuries, only the most powerful were able to come into possession of these rare natural born treasures, symbolism of which is observed up to the present time.
Observe how the color looks around and inside the drill hole. If the pearl is natural, the color of the pearl will go all the way through, but if you notice that the nacre inside is white, while the surface of the pearl is another color, then it's likely been dyed.