|
|
|
|
Evaluating Color |
|
|
|
 |
|
Pearl color
includes: the body color (the primary color - either light, dark, or
colored), the overtone color (a tint that appears super-imposed on
the body color),and a rare component called orient (an iridescent, or
rainbow of colors that generally is found on baroque pearls, or those
with an irregular surface). |
|
|
|
The most
valuable pearls in the light body color group are pink, pink rose'
and white rose' with a very high luster, and are well matched, and
round, with a clean surface. The finest dark pearls are black with a
metallic green overtone color. Pearls also come in pastel colors such
as: pink, purple, yellow, golden, green, silver, and blue. |
|
|
The most
valuable overtone color in light pearls is rose', and in black
pearls, green is most desirable. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
The color of
the "mother-of-pearl" inside the shell determines the pearl
color, depending on the species. |
|
 |
|
With Akoya
cultured pearls,
the color and intensity of the color is a distinguishing feature of
pearl quality. Low quality pearls often have brown or yellowish body
color and do not have overtone or very light overtone. Pearls without
overtone look "flat". High quality pearls have deeper
overtone color, because the intensity of color is the result of thick
nacre and high luster. Pearl processing also effect pearl color. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
In naturally
"black" cultured tahitian
pearls,
the color can range from light gray to dark gray to black, and also
includes blue and green; overtones are usually green or pink. In
black pearls, a green overtone is the rarest and the most costly,
especially when it results in an intense "peacock" color. |
|
|
 |
|
South Sea
cultured pearls
come in shades of lustrous white, often with silver or rosé
overtones. They are larger in size than the Akoya pearl and are also
used in the creation of fine pearl strands and ropes. |
|
|
|
|
