Pearl Colors can inspire and add depth to your style.
I love pearls. I own tons of them. You might say I have an obsession. But I never really gave pearl colors much thought until recently. I do have several colors in my collection but I thought only to match my wardrobe. When you think about it I was also making a statement of how I was feeling with my entire outfit that day.
Quick FYI
Pearl—natural or cultured—is a US birthstone for June, together with alexandrite and moonstone.
How many pearl colors are there?
If you’re going to be a purist and count all the actual colors and all the different hues and tones for each one it will easily be millions. When dealing with just the most common colors you’ll get about a good dozen to choose from. If you went shopping for a particular color you will see all the variations of that one color.
Pearl Colors dyeing process
To be honest most pearls have had some kind of processing to enhance their colors. Dyeing is the most used and is generally accepted. But how to know if your pearls are dyed? Look carefully. If the nucleus looks dark and the nacre inside looks white, it is dyed. Also, if dye is concentrated around the drill hole or on a spot of the surface, it is dyed. White pearls are often polished in a solution and bleached to get a perfect white color.
The most common pearl color
The most common colors are in the white family. It can be bright white to creamy white with some gray overtones. You will also find black pearls easily.
pearl color meanings
Pearls are among the oldest used gemstones in jewelry. They have acquired meaning and symbolism over time. Perhaps we can use the color symbolism as inspiration to show how we are feeling when we choose our outfit for the day. It’s a subtle message but if you wear white pearls which are light and bright as opposed to black pearls which are darker wouldn’t it be a hint?
Here’s a good list of basic colors
White Pearls
White symbolizes innocence, purity and beauty. That’s why they are often worn brides at their wedding. They also stand for peace and sincerity.
Black Pearls
Black pearls are intriguing and unconventional. They stand for independence, sophistication, strength, and boldness.
Pink Pearls
Pink which is a very feminine color, represents romance and softness. Also love, compassion, loyalty and faith.
Gold Pearls
Gold pearls are synonymous with wealth, class and prosperity. They are also the most expensive. Wearing gold pearls shows prestige and sophistication.
Blue Pearls
Blue is one of the most popular colors for all jewelry. It symbolizes calmness, truth, and courage. Blue pearls are very rare have an iridescence finish. They are a perfect gift for someone going through a tough time and needs courage and strength.
Brown Pearls
Brown pearls represent dependability and stability. They are often called chocolate pearls. Their color is steady and enduring.
Silver Pearls
Silver Pearls mean dignity, self control, organized and patience.
Purple Pearls
Purple pearls mean wisdom, artistic, creative and royal.
Red Pearls
Red pearls mean power, enthusiasm, success, leadership and respect.
Green Pearls
Green pearls mean balance, nature, money, justice and good luck.
Yellow Pearls
Yellow pearls mean cheerful, happy, optimistic, friendship and uplifting.
Orange Pearls
Orange pearls mean social, playful, warmth, emotional, power and courage.