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  Pearl ColorsWhat gives pearls their different colors? A pearl’s natural color depends mainly on the species of mollusk involved. The color of the pearl tends to match the inside of the mollusk’s shell—black pearls are made by the Black-lipped Pearl Oyster, gold pearls are produced by the Silver- or Gold-lipped Pearl Oyster, etc. The pigment resides in the organic layers, between the layers of aragonite, a crystalline form of the mineral calcium carbonate. However, artificial coloring is not unknown in the pearl trade. Suppliers may dye, bleach, or irradiate pearls to alter their color. back to Fun Facts |
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