Naturally colored blue pearls are the rarest pearl colors in the world (with one or two exceptions, which we will get to below). The color has existed in pearls for decades, but only recently have naturally colored blue pearls gained popularity in the modern pearl jewelry markets.
The Australian South Sea Pearls are the Jewels of the Ocean and are the rarest and most highly prized pearls in the world. They are known as the Queen of Pearls.
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.
Perhaps the best-loved gems of all time, pearls—both natural and modern cultured pearls—occur in a wide variety of colors. The most familiar colors are white and cream (a light yellowish brown). Black, gray, and silver are also fairly common, but the palette of pearl colors extends to every hue.
The most classic and widely preferred pearl color is white. The white pearl is considered a symbol of purity, and is often associated with wedding and graduation celebrations.
A black pearl can also be formed from a white pearl-producing oyster that has an unusual black colouring in its nacre. This, however, is very rare and occurs in only one in 10,000 pearls.
Up to 4,000 pearls are cultured in these waters each year, making them the rarest of cultured pearls in the world.
South Sea pearls are often referred to as the Rolls Royce of pearls. They are the largest and most valuable pearls grown today, with average sizes ranging from 10 to 15 millimeters.
Some of the world's most expensive pearls are so notoriously difficult to successfully produce and harvest that they are 'rarer than gold'.
The luster of good quality pearls is sharp and bright. You should be able to see your reflection clearly on the surface of a pearl. Any pearl that appears too white, dull or chalky, is of low quality.
Akoya pearls are the preeminent cultured pearls. They are the pearls that the Mikimoto brand popularized. Prized by royalty and pearl connoisseurs for centuries, Akoya pearls have long been coveted for their perfectly round shape, richness, and deep luster.
White and Golden South Sea pearls are the largest and most luxurious of all cultured pearl types on the market today. Often called the “Queen of Pearls”, South Sea pearls feature a gorgeous palette of natural Golden and White colors that shimmer with delicate overtones and are simply unmistakable.
Diamonds can often come at a higher price than pearls.
La Peregrina is the most famous pearl in the world. Its history spans almost 500 years. In recent history it belonged to actress Elizabeth Taylor. The original weight of this pear-shaped pearl was 55.95 carats, 11.2 g.
Natural pearls are still worth much more, but they're not really worth more than a diamond nowadays. And, when buying pearls you're over 90% bound to find cultured pearls, not natural ones.
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However Mother of pearl exists in almost all mollusks, but the chances of a particle entering the shellfish and forming a pearl is much more rare and so pearls are more valuable. For man-made items, pearls are also more valuable than mother-of-pearl because they take much longer to form.
Purple pearls are Freshwater pearls that range from dreamy lavender to unbelievable ultraviolet colors.
They are “exceptionally rare” — occurring in about one in 5,000 shells — according to the International Gem Society.
Grey pearls reflect qualities like dignity, patience, wisdom, progress, self-control, focus and security.
Mother-of-pearl is the iridescent inside lining of a mollusk shell. It is most commonly found in three types of mollusks—pearl oysters, freshwater mussels, and abalone.
The biggest recorded natural pearl in the world is the Pearl of Puerto. This pearl is often known as the Pearl of Puerto Princesa. A Filipino fisherman discovered it in the sea off the Philippine Islands. It weighs 75 pounds and is 2.2 feet long and wide.
Tahitian pearls are the only naturally-occurring dark colored pearls. Their color ranges from light gray to dark gray and green with overtones of greens, blues and purple. Tahitian pearls with peacock color, or green-gray to blue-gray body color and pink to purple overtone, are a favorite.