| When it comes to precious gems, the pearl is in a | | | | conditions during the period the pearl was grown, |
| world of its own. Rather than coming from the | | | | the color a pearl takes is influenced greatly by the |
| ground, it comes from mollusks like oysters or | | | | water it grows in. This means that black pearls |
| mussels. Because of the nature in which they are | | | | can come in shades of grey to bluish black. |
| made, pearls were once very rare, and only the | | | | Pearls are grown because of some form of |
| wealthiest of people could afford them. But now | | | | invader that lodges itself in a mollusk, be it a bit of |
| we understand the science behind how a pearl is | | | | sand, or in cultured pearls, something larger like a |
| made, and they can be cultivated with ease, | | | | ball bearing. Depending on how large the cultivator |
| causing them to be much more affordable in this | | | | wants the pearl to get, or what type of quality |
| day and age. Not only that, but colors that were | | | | he is looking for, the pearls can be left in to about |
| once considered to be rare and a real catch have | | | | 10 months to years. During this time, the oyster |
| because accessible. One of these colors of pearls | | | | will secrete nacre onto the irritant, which usually |
| is the black pearl, or the Tahitian black pearl. | | | | takes the same color as the inside of the |
| Exotic, enticing, and classy, the black pearl can be | | | | mollusk's shell, but this can be influenced by the |
| worn by any age group, with any style. | | | | oxygenation of the water or water quality. As |
| The Tahitian black pearl gets it name from the | | | | time passes, layers of nacre builds on the irritant, |
| island of Tahiti and it's surrounding islands where it | | | | also known as a nucleus, making a pearl. The |
| was originally discovered. They come from black | | | | longer the pearl is left in, the bigger it gets and |
| pearl oysters, which were hunted with some | | | | usually the luster quality is better. When choosing |
| ferocity in the 1960's, particularly on the island of | | | | pearl earrings, often doesn't have to be as big as |
| Hikueru near Bora Bora. Black pearls were | | | | other pearl jewelry, but the challenge in making |
| exported from this island until 1972. Since then, | | | | them is finding two pearls that look the same |
| we have been able to make cultured pearls. Black | | | | size, shape, and color. |
| pearls however aren't always black. Given the | | | | |