*Each type of pearl has different colors. *Each in unique in their own way.

Freshwater pearls

Freshwater pearls are available in a variety of natural colors such as pink, lavender and white. Many other colors such as navy blue, emerald green and magenta are available, but these hues are the result of artificial dyeing.

White

• White is the most popular color, as it most closely resembles the akoya pearl.
• White pearls feature traditional overtones of rose, cream and silver.
• Display white pearls on neutral-colored backgrounds like white, tan or light grey for best results.

Pink

• Common pink pearl overtones are gold, green and rose.
• The pink and peach hues are natural colors that will never fade or discolor over the years as long as the pearls are cared for correctly.

• Common lavender pearl overtones are aquamarine, green, gold and rose.
• Like pink pearls, the purple hues of lavender freshwater pearls are completely natural, and will never fade or discolor over time if cared for properly.
• Both pink and lavender Freshwater pearls can be a mauve or dusty rose hue that can be sorted into either color category.

Black

• Black Freshwater pearls can range in color from a dark blue to violet to charcoal grey and often feature intensely iridescent ‘peacock’ overtones.

Tahitian

Tahitian pearl colors are described first by primary body color and then overtone. Tahitian pearl body color can range from near-white hues to jet black, although the majority of pearls are medium to dark charcoal gray colors. The overtone is the secondary, iridescent hue that appears to float over the pearl’s surface.

Overtones can be peacock, pistachio, silver, steel, bronze, green, aquamarine, rose and aubergine among many other colors and hybrids. The saturation or intensity of the Tahitian pearl’s overtones increases a pearl’s value. Some overtones such as peacock are prized above all others.

Peacock

• Peacock is considered the most valuable overtone. Peacock can be described as an iridescent mix of blue-green, green, gold and rose hues. The more saturated and intense the color, the more valuable the pearl.
• Tahitian pearls with peacock overtones can have body colors that range from pale silver to medium and dark charcoal gray. The peacock overtone will show up best on pearls that range from a medium to dark charcoal gray body color.
• The peacock overtone is traditionally paired with white gold clasps and findings, however yellow gold can often enhance the secondary rose and golden hues, giving the pearls a warm sparkle.

Silver

• The silver overtone can help Tahitian pearls appear larger and brighter than their actual measurements. This is because light reflects off their surfaces at a higher rate.
  
• Silver is an excellent selection for women that have pink or reddish undertones in their complexion, as the pastel hues won’t clash with their skin tone. Older women with silver or gray hair will appreciate Tahitian pearls with silver overtones as well.
  
• Silver is also excellent for showing off the pearl’s iridescence, which will often show up as a faint tinge of rose or aquamarine color shifting over the pearl’s surfaces.

Green and Blue

• Green is one of the most common colors.
  
• True blue colors are rare.
  
• Blue overtones can occur on pearls with pale gray to nearly black body colors, but darker pearls with intense saturation of color are highly valued.
  
• Pistachio is a color combination of silver, green and yellow colors. It is most commonly observed in pearls with light to medium gray body colors.
  
• Aubergine is a mix of rose and midnight blue hues. Pearls with more rose than blue are described as cherry.

South Sea

White South Sea

White South Sea pearls have an overwhelmingly a bright white or silvery white primary body color. The secondary overtones are pale, transparent hints of color that can be best observed by placing the pearl on a plain white background.

• Overtones are similar to akoya pearls: rose, silver and cream. White South Sea pearls also often display hybrid combinations.

Rose

• Rose is a rare and valued overtone. It may range from a very faint hint of pink to saturated, but is most often very subtle.
• Rose overtones pair nicely with yellow gold settings and clasps.

Silver

• Most white South Sea pearls exhibit bright white or silver-white body color.
  
• Silver pearls often have undertones of blue or green, which give the pearls a cool tone. White gold clasps and mountings are recommended to amplify this effect.
  
• This tone is best suited for women with darker tan or olive complexions, the contrasting effect can be quite stunning.

Silver-rose

• One of the most sought-after overtones, white South Sea pearls displaying a silver-rose hybrid have premium pricing.
  
• An optimal combination of subtle blue and pink undertones can be seen over the bright white body color of the pearl. This combination can create dazzling flashes of magenta and lavender colors under the proper lighting conditions.

Silver-blue

• Silver-blue color is a color almost unique to South Sea pearls.
  
• The body color of a silver-blue pearl will appear as a pale dove gray color, with heavy blue, silver gray overtones.

Cream

• Cream is the least valuable overtone
  
• Champagne overtones are a subset of cream. Rare and lovely, this color combination is very flattering for women with reddish or pink undertones in their complexions, or who cannot tolerate many of the cooler hues White South Sea pearls usually display.
  
• The best champagne overtones will appear to have violet flashes of color in the proper lighting. Combinations of ephemeral blue and delicate pink hues are what create this effect over a pale cream body.

Gold South Sea

Gold South Sea pearls have a range of natural body colors. They are similar to the common metallic gold karat hues and are most easily described as light gold, medium gold and dark gold. Going into more detail, one may also describe the colors by the corresponding saturation of karat gold, such as 24 karat. The deeper and more saturated the golden color, the more valuable the pearl.

*Overtones are secondary colors that show up as transparent tinges of color that appear to float over the surface of the pearl. These can best be observed by placing the pearl on a plain white background. Golden South Sea pearl overtones are subtle. The most common overtones are rose, neutral gold (also called yellow), silver, champagne and bronze/green.

Rose

• Rose is a hint of pale to deeper pink. It enhances a pearl’s warmth and shine and is more forgiving to pale complexions.

Silver

• Silver often has undertones of blue or green, giving pearls a cool tone. White gold clasps and mountings are recommended to complement this effect.

Bronze/Green

• Known as one of the trickier overtones to wear, bronze/green has subtle to noticeable tinges of green over the golden body color.
  
• This overtone looks particularly beautiful on women with very dark tan or olive skin. The darker skin tone paired with the golden hues creates a striking visual contrast between the pearls and the wearer.

• Information used from Pearls As One