Green in sunlight. Red in lamplight. Colour-changing alexandrite is nature’s magic trick.

Pearls, beloved for their timeless beauty, come in a wide range of colours, from the classic white and cream (light yellowish-brown) to less common shades like black, grey, and silver. The colour of a pearl, known as its bodycolor, can be enhanced by additional hues called overtones, which may include pink (sometimes called rosé), green, purple, or blue. Some pearls also display the iridescent effect known as orient.

Cultured pearls are especially popular for use in bead necklaces, bracelets, and various types of jewellery such as earrings, rings, and pendants. Larger pearls with unique shapes are particularly favoured by innovative jewellery designers.

Pearls, whether natural or cultured, are the birthstone for June, along with alexandrite and moonstone.

Natural Pearls vs. Cultured Pearls

• Natural Pearls: These pearls form spontaneously in the mantle tissue of certain mollusks around a tiny irritant, with no human intervention.

• Cultured Pearls: Cultured pearls require human involvement to develop. Today, most mollusks used in culturing are specifically farmed for this purpose, although some wild mollusks are still used. The process begins with a skilled technician implanting a shell bead or a piece of mantle tissue into a host mollusk. If a bead is used, the mantle tissue forms a sac around it, secreting nacre that eventually creates a cultured pearl. Without a bead, nacre forms around the implanted tissue pieces. The mollusks are carefully tended until the pearls are ready to be harvested.

Types of Cultured Pearls

1. Akoya Cultured Pearls: The most familiar saltwater cultured pearls, especially in Western markets. They are often seen in classic white or cream colours, notably in single-strand necklaces. Both Japan and China produce Akoya pearls.

2. South Sea Cultured Pearls: Sourced primarily from Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, these pearls range from white to silver or golden. Their large size, thick nacre, and specific growing conditions contribute to their high value.

3. Tahitian Cultured Pearls: Cultivated mainly around the islands of French Polynesia, including Tahiti, these saltwater pearls, sometimes called black pearls, come in shades of grey, black, or brown with overtones of blue, green, purple, or pink.

4. Freshwater Cultured Pearls: The most commonly produced and popular pearls, known for their wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Cultured primarily in freshwater lakes and ponds, often with multiple pearls growing in a single mollusk, these pearls are most commonly sourced from China. They are valued for their affordability and versatility in jewellery design.