What are black pearls and how are they mined?

Hello, dear readers! In nature, real black pearls are not very common; they are created by a special type of mollusk. Pearls of this type are silver, charcoal black and dark green in color.

Since it is rarely found in natural conditions, the cost of jewelry with it is very high. In the old days, only people from high society wore jewelry with it; it was inaccessible to ordinary people. Today the situation has changed somewhat and you can buy cultured black pearls, since they are still more common in the world than natural ones, but their prices are also quite high.

History and origin

Finding natural wild pearls is not so easy. In nature, only one shell out of 15 thousand has a chance of finding this rare pearl. And although the process of formation of a black mineral is similar to the main stages of the formation of pearls of other colors, there are still differences.

The first is a special type of mollusk Pinctada margaritifera (Margarita), which is found in the waters of Polynesia and is capable of producing a dark pigment responsible for the color of the mother-of-pearl layer.

The second condition is the place of cultivation. Margarita oysters cannot be bred anywhere except the islands of French Polynesia, and specifically in Tahiti. Experiments in Australia and Japan failed. The limited geographical growing area only adds to the value of this natural material.

It is in Tahiti that the standard black pearls in the shade of deep twilight are obtained. Less valuable specimens may range from lilac to eggplant.

In history, the black sea mineral was mentioned back in the days of Alexander the Great during his campaign in India. The ancient Greeks actively used rare stone to create jewelry.

Pearls experienced a second wave of popularity during the conquests of Cortez in Mexico and modern California. The Spanish commander brings unusual charcoal-colored pearls to Europe, which become extremely popular among the nobility.

Crowned heads were also his admirers: Catherine the Great, Queen Marie-Louise (Napoleon's second wife). Today you can see black pearl jewelry on the Duchess of Cambridge, actress Angelina Jolie, and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.

WHAT INFLUENCES THE PRICE OF SUCH PEARLS

The price of natural and cultured sea pearls differs by 9-12 times. Freshwater pearl is about 5-7 times cheaper.

The price of cultured pearls is affected by:

1. Shine; the stronger it is, the more expensive the pearls.
2. Form. The most expensive are perfectly round pearls.
3. Size. Directly proportional to the price.
4. Thickness of the nacre layer and surface quality of the cultured pearl.
5. Color. The most expensive ones are perfectly black and white; Colored pearls are highly valued.

Refinement of cultured pearls

Improving the appearance of mother-of-pearl art objects is quite popular.

Refinement methods:

1. Coloring the mother-of-pearl layer.
2. Irradiation.
3. To enhance the shine of a pearl, it is treated with solutions of mineral salts and methyl alcohol. After treatment, the shine increases, but after 2-3 years, and in the worst case, after 6 months, the shine will return to its natural parameters.
4. If there are cracks, small chips, or stains on the surface of the pearl, epoxy resin or different types of silicone are used. This is how cheap discarded pearls are treated. An attentive buyer will be able to recognize such an “improvement”.

The best type of cultured pearls

The most expensive cultured pearls come from the South Seas. The greatest demand is for gold pearls. They are not inferior to Tahiti, whose mystical radiance combined with gloomy color invariably attracts buyers.

Akoya is considered elite - its regular shape, elegant shades and soft shine are highly prized by wealthy buyers.

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Types and features

There are cultured, natural and artificial pearls. Each type has its own characteristic features.

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Natural

Natural pearls have not been mined since 1952, after the introduction of a worldwide ban on their extraction. Today you can find such material only at the most famous auctions at an incredible price.

Cultivated

The cultivated mineral is more common, but no less valuable. The process of creating it is painstaking and takes more than a year. An implant placed in the mantle of a mollusk is slowly covered with dark-colored nacre only under certain conditions (water composition and temperature, flow). Human intervention is limited to introducing the base core; then specialists can only monitor growth and control the specified parameters.

There are several types of black pearls on the market:

1. Tahitian. An exclusive mineral of large size (up to 20 mm in diameter) and rich dark color. Specimens of a rare cobalt shade are considered the most valuable. The peculiarity of this type is the iridescent tints and metallic shine. In addition to the intense charcoal tone, you can find Tahitian pearls in red, purple, green and blue colors on sale.
2. "Cortez" Grown off the coast of California. The smoky tone of pearls is distinguished by the ability to create shimmer and fluoresce in the light of an ultraviolet lamp.

Interesting! Pearl farms in Australia, Vietnam and Seychelles also cultivate non-standard pearls. However, in many respects it is inferior to the Tahitian type and Cortez pearls.

Artificial

The man-made version, produced under the Mallorca brand, is not much different in appearance from the natural one. These are the most expensive artificial pearls.

Also on the market is a glass “Roman” type coated with an essence made from fish scales and the cheapest plastic one, which is simply coated with paint that imitates mother-of-pearl.

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With changed color

In some cases, the color of standard white pearls is changed using special means:

1. X-ray exposure. As a result of this operation, a material of a blue or smoky tone with a slight metallic tint is obtained.
2. Immersion in silver nitrate. The process consists of two technological operations: immersion in a solution and ultraviolet irradiation.

The second option is applicable to low-quality samples.

Age

There are also recommendations based on age. For example, young girls should not wear black pearls; it is better to choose light colors, and older women need to ensure the authenticity of the material.

It is generally accepted that it is not the status of an adult lady to wear artificial pearls, not real ones - it looks quite cheap. There is no such requirement for men, since it is understood that if a male representative decides to wear such jewelry, then in any case it will be natural.

Properties

In addition to physical and chemical properties, dark pearls are credited with magical and healing abilities.

Physical

The chemical composition of black pearl includes calcium carbonate, conchiolin (an organic protein) and water. Depending on the type of pearl, the ratio of these substances may vary.

Variability in composition affects the density of the mineral. The average value falls within the range from 2.66 to 2.75. The density of black pearls is less than ordinary sea pearls and varies between 2.62-2.68.

Color is determined by the presence and amount of pigment produced, the production of which, in turn, is associated with the type of mollusk. The shape depends on the location of the nucleus. Perfect spherical pearls are formed by placing an implant on the mantle of an oyster.

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Medicinal

Medicinal properties have been attributed to the mineral since ancient times. It is recommended to wear pearls on the body as a pendant, bracelet or ring. It is believed that in this way the precious material senses the energy of the owner in the best way and, when health deteriorates, reacts by changing color and shine.

Pearls are actively used in Chinese folk medicine. The most common way to use it is to hold a natural pearl in your mouth for 15-20 minutes. It is believed that in this way the precious stone stimulates intoxication of the body with the subsequent removal of all harmful substances.

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Pearl powder is widely used in Asian countries to treat skin diseases and create luxury cosmetics. Powder from the mineral is added to healing decoctions for kidney and liver diseases. A number of doctors claim that pearls can increase immunity and build resistance to various types of pathogenic organisms. However, all of the above healing properties apply only to natural material.

Interesting! Water mixed with pearl dust is used not only as a hemostatic agent, but also as a rejuvenating elixir. Such drinks are especially popular in South Korea and Japan.

Magical

Black pearls evoke mixed feelings: from awe to fear. Due to its unusual color, it is often endowed with special magical properties.

Residents of India believe that the black pearl is an excellent amulet against evil spirits. It is customary to take this stone with you on long journeys to ensure that you reach your destination.

In China, the charcoal-colored mineral represents wisdom and patience. And in the Emirates and the countries of the East, this stone is considered a symbol of wealth and happiness.

In Ancient Rus', black pearls were given to married women and widows. To the first, he promised protection from betrayal, preservation of youth and beauty, and to the second, he gave the opportunity to meet a new spouse. It was not recommended to give pearl jewelry to unmarried girls and single men. It was believed that such a gift dooms the recipient to loneliness.

The stone is also credited with calming properties. Contemplation of a black pearl will allow you to put your thoughts in order, calm your feelings, and hide the emotions that are rushing out.

A frame made of silver and gold can enhance the magical properties of the stone. Therefore, these 2 materials are most often used when decorating pearl jewelry.

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The magic of the black pearl

A mineral of natural origin is considered a mysterious stone with magical properties, and it does not matter where it is mined or whether it has any flaws. Today people believe that black pearls have the following magical powers:

• Get rid of misconceptions;
• Help to benefit from any situation;

• They teach a person to think soberly;
• Calm the nervous system;
• Helps establish relationships with others;
• They give you confidence.

Wearing jewelry in the form of pendants or stud earrings with pearls should only be worn by those whose soul is pure, and whose heart has no place for lies and deceit; then the mineral will show all its best qualities in full force.

In addition to magical properties, the mineral is also credited with medicinal properties. For example, in Israel and Tibet it was believed that it was possible to improve the functioning of the circulatory system by placing a dark-colored pearl bead in the mouth for 15 minutes every day. The stone can also strengthen the immune system, relax the nervous system, and promote rejuvenation.

Compatibility of Burmitz grain of dark tones with zodiac signs

Aquarius, Gemini, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are the zodiac signs that are recommended to wear jewelry with dark pearls. The mineral will not benefit other signs, but what does it matter if it can be used as a wonderful decoration and addition to the image.

The benefits of certain zodiac signs are as follows:

• The mineral will bring luck and success to Cancers;
• For Gemini, black pearls will help recognize betrayal;
• For a Scorpio woman, Burmitz grain in dark tones will help her find true love and find happiness. Scorpios are the only zodiac sign for whom only black pearls suit, which is due to their patronage of Mars and Pluto;

• A black pearl in the form of an amulet will protect Aquarius from evil gossip and intrigues.

Also, many people are interested in why they dream of a black pearl; most dream books interpret such dreams as the approach of some kind of catastrophe or misfortune, in which the person who saw pearls in a dream may not become a participant.

How to evaluate the quality of black pearls

It is extremely difficult for a non-specialist to assess the quality of a mineral. This indicator depends on many factors:

• forms;
• colors;
• surface structures;
• thickness of the mother-of-pearl layer;
• the nature of the overflow,
• shine;
• size.

In international practice, quality indicators are designated by letters from C to A. The “AAA” mark is a symbol of the highest standard quality.

PURCHASE AND CARE

Dark pearl jewelry is recommended for self-confident people, as this bright accent attracts everyone's attention.

You need to choose products very carefully; be sure to match them with your skin tone.

For girls with fair skin, black and blue pearls are suitable, and for girls with dark skin, greenish pearls.

The mineral requires attention; proper care will ensure an excellent appearance for a long time.

• It is stored in a special box, the interior of which is decorated with soft fabric - most often silk.
• The air should not be dry, as the amount of moisture in the pearl may decrease and its condition will worsen.

How to spot a fake

You need to pay attention to the shape of the beads. If it is perfect, then the pearl is fake.

The characteristics of shine and shimmer can help those who have already seen real stones.

Hematite is very similar to black pearls. However, unlike pearls, it will leave a red mark on unglazed porcelain.

The cost of a real mineral is much higher than its artificial counterparts.

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What affects the cost of black pearls

The estimated cost of this dark mineral directly depends on the size, quality and thickness of the mother-of-pearl layer.

What is important is the intensity of the shine, which is easy to see when placing the pearl on a white material.

High-grade stones have very bright reflections.

How to wear and care

• Pearls should be worn often, but make sure that no creams or perfumes come into contact with them.
• Even tobacco smoke can worsen his condition.
• You should not wear jewelry when walking in the bright and hot sun, or during strong winds.
• It is recommended to remove them before swimming in chlorinated water.

After the jewelry is removed, all stones should be wiped with a soft, slightly damp cloth to remove dirt:

1. For washing, use baby soap, without additives.
2. Wash the pearls with soap suds.

Do not put minerals that are still wet into the box or clean them with solutions containing aggressive chemicals.

Text author: Alevtina DRACHEVA

Stone and Zodiac

Like most gemstones, pearls correspond to certain zodiac signs. Since this mineral is formed in water, it is considered the patron of the water element, but specifically black pearls can be presented as a gift only to those born under the sign of Scorpio. A good gift would be silver earrings with pearls or a pendant with a smoky shade of the same stone.

Important! Pisces will be more suited to the river type, and Gemini should generally avoid such gifts.

What form does it come in?

Material created with the help of humans is usually divided according to several criteria, including shape. The following varieties are distinguished:

• Sphere - beads have the ideal shape of a sphere, they are the most common and in demand.
• Hemisphere - pearls are slightly flat and oblong. They are actively used in jewelry; in a beautiful frame they look no worse than a round one.

• Rice is an oval-shaped pearl with a wide central part and narrowed edges.
• A drop is a touching form of a tear and comes in different lengths. Pearls of this shape look especially beautiful in pendants and earrings.
• Baroque is almost complete abstraction. This material is the most affordable. With the exception of individual specimens of a completely unique shape, suitable for creating designer jewelry.
• Semi-baroque - respectively, pearls with an asymmetrical shape, similar to the one described above.

Also interesting shape options are button, blister and beads. Button pearls look like small buttons, completely flat. Blisters are formed not in the mantle of the oyster, but in the inner surface of the valve, which leads to the absence of a layer of nacre at the attachment site. Beads are the smallest pearls up to 2 mm, resembling ordinary beads, often round or oval.

How to find out the origin and distinguish a fake

Since pearls are a very popular type of jewelry, the modern market is filled with a variety of samples, some of which are fake. In addition to the price and the availability of a certificate in favor of natural stone, he says:

• the weight of the mineral and its inability to bounce when thrown from the surface;
• characteristic uneven structure of the mother-of-pearl layer (small scratches, flattening);
• a creak that occurs when trying to bite a pearl.

The origin of pearls can be determined from accompanying documents or by their characteristic color and luster. The gold-colored stones most likely came from the Philippines, the cream and white-pink pearls from Japan, and the blue-black ones from Tahiti. Natural origin is confirmed by minor defects that do not exist in an artificial analogue.

Types of pearls

This magnificent stone can be identified by its variety, and it has three:

• Pearls that are grown in fresh waters and are found in Russian, Chinese, German and North American rivers.
• South Sea, which can be obtained in Australian and Philippine waters, as well as on the shores of Myanmar and the Polynesian and Indonesian islands.
• But pearls from the seas that surround Japan are considered the most beautiful, as they have an incredible and unusual shine.

The stone comes in different shapes - both arbitrary and regularly round. There are eight varieties of shapes in total: drop, button, pear, sphere, circle, oval, semicircle and irregular. Pearl color depends directly on the habitat of the mollusks and the conditions that surround them. In nature, you can most often find stones of white and pink colors, but greenish, cream and black shades are considered rare. Jewelers consider blue pearls to be a unique and most expensive class.

Increasingly nowadays, cultured stones are used in jewelry, that is, one that was grown not in nature, but with human participation. Accordingly, it will have a lower cost than natural one, but there are no significant differences in appearance. As for the price of natural pearls, there is a difference here too, and a stone mined at sea costs much more than a river one, due to the fact that it is an order of magnitude better quality.

Price

The cost of pearls depends on many factors: the saturation of the shade, the layer of mother-of-pearl, size, luster, and the identity of the elements in the product (in beads, bracelets or earrings).

If we talk about how much the mineral costs in Russia, then the price of a small black Tahitian pearl will vary from 150 to 180 dollars. The cost of a large auction copy starts from 10 thousand.

And artificial black pearls are several times cheaper. So stud earrings with smoky pearls “Mallorca” cost from 2 to 8 thousand rubles, a ring up to 10 thousand, a necklace from 3 to 5 thousand. The variability in prices for products is related to the material of the frames. Even if inexpensive materials are used, jewelry with pearls or high-quality imitation pearls look dignified and status-worthy.

Black stone care

Pearl is a very capricious stone and reacts to the unfavorable conditions surrounding it. If there is a lot of water and moisture, the stone will swell, and in extremely dry air it will become brittle and begin to crumble. It gives an instant reaction to harmful acids, even hairsprays. With a sharp change in temperature, it will instantly lose its incredible valuable shine and fade.

In order not to lose the pearl beauty, protect your pebble from any impact, wash it in lightly salted water every six months. Store jewelry with stones in a bag made of natural fabric and a box, preferably made from natural materials.

How to wear and care

Black pearls are unique and distinctive, so they can be worn separately without additional decoration. Most often, it is in this form that it can be found in bracelets or in pearl threads.

However, jewelers often want to emphasize an unusual shape or shade and, to do this, set the gemstone in gold, silver and platinum settings.

Interesting! A classic string of pearls will suit both the image of a business woman and a socialite. For young girls, a thin necklace or studs made of cream or pink pearls will be enough, and the status of a woman of Balzac’s age will be successfully emphasized by a massive bracelet or necklace made of a large white or smoky black mineral.

Caring for pearls is very simple, just rinse them and dry them naturally. Pearl jewelry should be stored in a hard box or case so that the beads rub against each other as little as possible.

History of jewelry with black pearls

In ancient times, black natural pearls were mined on the island of Socotra and were even more rare than today. When Alexander the Great was preparing to go on a campaign against India, his wise mentor Aristotle gave advice to capture this island precisely because of its rich pearl industry. The great conqueror did just that, thanks to which black pearls conquered Greece. It is believed that Makedonsky laid the foundation for jewelry collections in which they began to combine pearls of different colors and introduced fashion for them.

But Europe’s closer acquaintance with the exotic mineral of dark varieties occurred much later, closer to the 16th century. The Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortez seems to have been a true esthete, as he was captivated by the beauty of the mineral when he saw it while sailing in the Gulf of California. Mexican La Paz and California, at the instigation of the Spanish conqueror, gained fame as a world center for unusual colored pearls.

Naturally, the European and Russian nobility, who adore luxurious decorations, did not ignore this unique gem. Catherine II adorned herself with a necklace of 30 black mother-of-pearl beads of regular shape. The Austrian imperial crown was decorated with the same number of black pearls. And the dresses and headdresses they embroidered from those times are real works of handicraft and jewelry art.

A modern woman can choose a whole ensemble of pearl jewelry for herself, and at an affordable price. But it should be remembered that natural pearls of dark varieties cannot be obtained “from hand and on the cheap.”

Main conclusions

Black pearl is a unique mineral of unusual color, with sacred properties attributed to it.

1. The production of black pearls is no different from standard cultivation.
2. The unusual shade was obtained thanks to pigments secreted by the oyster species Pinctada margaritifera.
3. Black pearls are especially valued in China, India and Eastern countries, as they are believed to have the most powerful healing and magical properties.
4. You can distinguish natural materials from artificial ones by their surface structure, shine, and pearlescent tints.
5. Black pearls are one of the most expensive types of this mineral in the world. The dark cobalt specimens are the most valuable.

A product with black pearls will be an ideal gift for a woman. However, it is worth considering to whom and in what form it can be presented.

Traditions and beliefs about the precious black mineral

Looking at the photo of black pearls, you inevitably begin to think about their attractive and miraculous power. Professional divers for pearls in ancient times, having encountered a mineral of this color, were at first in confusion and did not know whether to rejoice at the find or not.

Today, when asked who can wear jewelry with pearls of a noble dark color, astrologers and psychics prefer to answer that it is women, since the mineral suits them more in terms of its energy than men.

According to the traditions of Eastern and Slavic countries, a man should have presented a necklace or choker with dark pearls to his beloved as an ideal gift, symbolizing eternal love, then the lady of his heart would find happiness, health and prosperity.

Despite ancient traditions, jewelers today use the mineral to decorate men's watches, signet rings, bracelets and other items, but, nevertheless, it is believed that in this case the pearl loses its magical abilities.

The mineral is still especially respected in India and China, where it is considered a symbol of wisdom, fidelity, protection from the evil eye and damage, and a talisman during travel. Also in these countries, magical properties are still attributed to the stone, and the questions of who is suitable and what to wear the mineral with are clearly defined.

Imitation and original

Even cultured pearls are counterfeited by dyeing them in more expensive colors. Specimens in black, blue or red are considered especially . Upon closer examination under a magnifying glass, you can see traces of paint on the surface.

A counterfeit of both natural and cultured pearls is the production of beads made of glass or plastic.

When looking at jewelry with colored pearls in a jewelry store, it is important to know the differences and understand whether it is an original or an imitation.

1. Initially, a white pearl has areas of different densities. When counterfeiting, the paint is absorbed unevenly, and spots or circles of dark shades form on the surface.
2. In beads, be sure to inspect the inner hole: in painted pearls it is darker.
3. The black color can be obtained by X-raying cheap river material. The metallic tint of the surface and the low price will give away a fake.

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Signs that suggest a fake may include:

1. Light weight of the product, especially beads or necklaces. Natural pearls are heavier than fake materials.
2. In paired jewelry (earrings, beads), rounded pearls still differ in shape from each other . Perfectly symmetrical beads are either very expensive or are an imitation.
3. Freshwater pearls of classic colors are rarely counterfeited due to their very affordable price.

Interesting! One of the imitation options is cotton pearls (Japan). Cotton fibers are pressed into balls and coated with pearl essence.

Such pearls turn out to be almost weightless.

Defects: which are acceptable and which are not

Once the pearls are removed from their shells, they are assessed according to a variety of parameters:

• form;
• color;
• shine;
• defects.

The last parameter is considered the most important: if a pearl of ideal shape and color has unacceptable defects, it will not be used for further jewelry production.

According to this criterion, pearls are divided into classes . AAA class minerals, free from any defects, have the highest degree of purity. Pearls with acceptable defects (indentations or bulges, spots invisible to the naked eye) are assigned class AA+ or AA.

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