Black Pearl Necklaces

Included in the ranks of the world’s rarest beauties, black pearls evoke an exotic and enticing air. Their impressive color and infrequent appearance make them a true treasure to acquire.

Indigenous to the South Pacific around the Tahitian islands, the black pearl is produced by only one species of oyster, known as the giant black-lipped oyster. In some regards, the name “black” is a misnomer: these pearls actually come in a range of shades, from a deep olive green to a purple-tinged indigo. Though these shades are treasured today, when these pearls first came into the European market in the mid-19th century they received little attention.

At the time, only the ivory white luster of the pearl was prized. In a few years time, however, the fashion forward Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, discovered black pearls and began wearing them with increasing frequency. Soon their rarity and extreme beauty transformed them into coveted couture, a love that continues today.

Quick Facts

• Black pearls are 100 times more rare than their white counterparts
• The American Pearl Company holds the title of having harvested one of the finest black pearls ever recorded. Known as “Black Beauty,” this black pearl weighs a total of 6.5 carats and offers a brilliant iridescent sheen that has yet to be rivaled
• The new record price to beat for a black pearl necklace was set in April 2015: a four-strand black pearl necklace sold at Christie’s auction house in New York for $5,093,000