| Are you lost trying to understand the differences | | | | background. A black pearl from a river or lake would |
| among the various kinds of pearls? If so, you are not | | | | have been very carefully dyed so that it "glows," or |
| alone. Pearl jewelry is considered to be the most | | | | bounces back light, and has a particular shine, or luster. |
| elegant and classy of all jewelry. Yet, the world of | | | | The dye is permanent; it does not wear off. |
| pearls is still a mystery to many people. | | | | 4. Pearls from a river or lake have a thicker nacre |
| This article will focus on black freshwater pearls, since | | | | than pearls from the ocean, and are therefore more |
| pearls that are black are the most exotic, and | | | | durable. You do not have to worry about these pearls |
| freshwater pearls are the most common ones in the | | | | chipping or wearing down. |
| world. | | | | 5. Very high quality freshwater pearls are available in |
| The five facts to know about black freshwater pearls | | | | today's market at affordable prices. |
| are: | | | | Black pearls have been highly coveted since the |
| | | | Empress Eugenie of France began wearing them in |
| 1. These come from mussels which live in lakes and | | | | the middle of the 19th century. Eugenie ruled supreme |
| rivers; each mussel can produce up to 50 pearls, as | | | | in the world of fashion, so before long these dark |
| opposed to oysters which only produce 1 to 3 each. | | | | colored gems became the hallmark of sophistication |
| However, the entire process takes from 4 to 6 years. | | | | throughout Europe. And why should they not be? No |
| 2. Pearls produced in mussels in freshwater are | | | | other jewelry lends such as mysterious air as does |
| naturally of a white, peach, or pink color, or less | | | | jewelry designed with black pearls. |
| commonly, a lavender-blue or purple color. Due to the | | | | Fortunately, the advanced art of culturing freshwater |
| allure of black pearls, these wonderful creations from | | | | pearls, and the perfected process of dying them black, |
| mussels sometimes undergo a dye treatment which | | | | means you do not have to be an empress, or even |
| produces a black color. | | | | possessed of great wealth, to indulge in jewelry |
| 3. The dye treatment creates an iridescent effect of | | | | designed with black freshwater pearls. |
| beautiful hues of colored light against a dark | | | | |