History of origin and appearance of black pearls, compatibility with zodiac signs

The word “stone” usually evokes an association with some kind of cold mineral, but black pearls are also considered a stone, although they have a completely different origin.
Nature created and presented people with this unusual and at the same time beautiful sphere. The description of this stone has been known since ancient times, but even now it has not lost its significance and popularity. Jewelry made from it is considered very feminine, and amulets have magical properties and help in the treatment of many diseases.

Origin story

Natural black pearls 11-10 mm beads
According to legends, black pearls gained their popularity during the reign of Alexander the Great. At that time, the mining of this mineral was carried out in Yemen on the island of Socotra. The great commander's mentor gave advice to capture the island in order to replenish the treasury by mining the mineral before going to India. It was during those years that pearls of all colors gained rapid popularity in Greece.

The fashion for black pearls came to Europe later - approximately in the 16th century. A necklace of charcoal pearls was Catherine II’s favorite jewelry. Grains of this mineral adorned the crown of the Austrian king.

Jewelry with black pearls

This rare gem is used to create jewelry for men and women. This stone, despite its laconic color, immediately stands out, so it is rarely combined with multi-colored minerals. These can be expensive jewelry with large beads, for example, Californian or Tahitian, or smaller ones that cost less. They are framed with white gold, platinum or silver, as this combination looks very impressive. Yellow gold can distract from the beauty of charcoal-dark pearls.

Black pearls are a treasure of rare beauty. Despite the apparent simplicity of the shade and shape, they immediately attract attention. That is why both natural and cultured pearls of dark tones are considered one of the most elegant, stylish and somewhat mysterious jewelry.

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Physico-chemical characteristics

The chemical composition of black pearls is calcium carbonate (CaCO3) combined with conchiolin and water. The color of the mineral comes from the fluid produced by the oyster. In most cases it is black, but there are also dark green and gray pearls with a pearlescent tint.

physical characteristics

What to wear with dark pearl jewelry

Many representatives of the fair sex, having become owners of jewelry with pearls, begin to worry because they do not know what to wear them with. Jewelry with this noble mineral can give its owner a luxurious, truly royal look. But many people wonder if it happens that black pearls make you look older. Stylists respond positively to it, so it is very important to choose the appropriate image.

Short strings of pearls are suitable for everyday office dresses and blouses; in combination with an evening dress with a deep neckline, you can wear a long string of pearls. At the same time, the image as a whole should be quite restrained, the dress should not shimmer with rhinestones, since the precious mineral is a rather attractive detail, and the shine of artificial stones will make it cheaper.

Pearl necklaces and chokers go well with shirts, sweaters, cardigans, jeans and other casual wear.

Type and features

There are four varieties of black pearls.

Natural pearls

The extraction of a mineral of natural origin has been prohibited since 1952, so it is impossible to find it on the shelves of jewelry stores. You can purchase natural black pearls only at auctions and pay exorbitant prices.

Cultured pearls

Beads made from natural pearls cultured in the natural environment
This type of mineral is created with the help of humans, but the main growth process remains natural under favorable conditions. The base of the future pearl is inserted into the mantle of the mollusk, which over time becomes covered with nacre. For the pearl to fully grow, a certain composition of the liquid produced by the mollusk, appropriate water temperature and current are required. The process of creating a mineral can take several years.

Cultured black pearls come in two types:

• Tahitian - large-diameter, charcoal-colored pearls have a metallic sheen and an iridescent sheen.
• "Cortez" - pearls of a smoky shade are grown in California.

Artificial pearls

Black artificial pearls
This variety is created by man from synthetic materials without the intervention of nature. There are the following types of artificial pearls:

• Mallorca - made in Spain from glass, plastic or porcelain, coated with nitrocellulose or artificial mother-of-pearl.
• Venetian - is a blown glass filled with wax and pearl sand. The shade of this variety is as close as possible to the color of natural black pearls.
• Roman - made of glass and then covered with essence.
• Takara is a pearl-colored core made of plastic, coated with polyamide or varnish.
• French - the manufacturing process is similar to Venetian.

With changed color

Natural white pearls are dyed black. This can be done in two ways:

• With the help of X-rays, river pearls acquire a charcoal color, sometimes with a metallic tint, and sea pearls acquire a gray or bluish tint.
• Using a solution of silver nitrate, the pearls are immersed in the prepared composition and exposed to ultraviolet radiation. After the procedure, carried out with strict adherence to technology, the mineral acquires a rich black color.

How to distinguish fake black pearls from real ones

The question of how to distinguish black pearls from fakes is very relevant today, since the price of the original is very high, no one wants to pay it for ordinary beads. To be able to spot a fake, you need to know the following few facts:

1. Artificial pearl will be much lighter than natural pearl.
2. Black pearls can be faked from germanite, but they will be heavier than the original ones.
3. The natural mineral easily bounces off flat surfaces if thrown up.
4. It is difficult to damage a real pearl with a sharp object, but the paint on an artificial bead will peel off immediately.
5. An unnatural stone is very smooth, but on the surface of a real pearl there are at least minor roughnesses.
6. The natural mineral always retains its coolness, and the jewelry will be at the same temperature as the air in the room.

When planning to purchase gold jewelry with noble black pearls, you should understand that their cost cannot be low, therefore, when you see an inexpensive product with this mineral on the counter of a jewelry store, you should understand that, most likely, this is an imitation, which the seller should warn about.

Medicinal properties

Among the healing properties of black pearls, the following are worth highlighting:

• beneficial effects on the immune system;
• treatment of liver and kidney diseases;
• normalization of the digestive system;
• relieving nervous tension and the effects of stress;
• rapid recovery from physical fatigue;
• increased mental activity;
• decrease in body temperature during heat.

The sea mineral will warn its owner about the development of the disease at the initial stage - the pearl will fade and lose its natural shine.

Healing properties of the stone

The main component of pearls is organic calcium, which is famous for its healing properties. In China, for example, pearls are ground into powder and added to skin care products. But in Tibet, this powder is taken into potions in order to cleanse and rejuvenate. There are also known methods of placing a stone in slightly acidic water for a while; it saturates the drink with all the microelements necessary for the body. There is an opinion that if you hold a pearl in your mouth, you can soothe pain in the heart, and this method is also effective for blood diseases. Natural pearls are also endowed with the ability to help with problems with the stomach, liver, intestines and kidneys. The stones will help calm the nervous system and give you peace of mind.

Magic properties

Because of its color, different peoples attribute special magical properties to black pearls.

In China, a mineral of this color is a symbol of patience and wisdom. In other eastern countries it is considered a talisman of success, material wealth and happiness.

In India, black pearls are a strong amulet against the evil eye, evil spirits and dangers. They take it with them on trips and long trips to protect themselves from accidents.

Ancient Rus' had its own legends about this mineral. It was believed that it could only be given to married women and widows. In the first case, black pearls acted as a talisman against betrayal and betrayal; in the second, they helped to find new love. For unmarried men and unmarried young girls, jewelry with black pearls can doom them to loneliness.

Silver and gold enhance the magical properties of black pearls, which is why the mineral is most often set in these metals.

Cultured pearls

Since the number of pearl mussels in natural conditions has decreased significantly, special farms have become the main source of pearls. These farms produce cultured black (as well as white) pearls . The technology consists of placing small beads, such as mother-of-pearl, inside the oysters and then returning them back to the water.

Mollusks stay in water for several years: cultivation time varies from 2 to 8 years

During this time, the placed beads are covered with natural mother of pearl. Then they are raised from the water again and the ripened pearls are taken out.

Japan and China were the first to cultivate pearls on an industrial scale. Today, technologies for growing round stones have become much more advanced.

Application

Stud earrings with black pearls
The only use of black pearls is in making jewelry. Depending on the shape and size, pearls are used as an insert into a particular piece of jewelry.

For example, teardrop grains look best in chokers and miniature necklaces, while beads that resemble grains of rice make beautiful beads. One large pearl is inserted into the ring, shimmering with mother-of-pearl or a metallic sheen. Flat beads with a diameter of no more than 1 cm are suitable for earrings. A classic type of jewelry is a pearl thread made of beads of a regular round shape.

Copper, silver, gold or platinum are used to set black pearls.

Price

Pearls are one of the most expensive jewelry stones. A small Tahitian pearl is estimated at $100, with a diameter of 18 mm – $10,000.

The Mallorca variety is cheaper. Beads cost 0.5–2.9, earrings – 1.5–7, pendant – 2–5, ring – 3–7 thousand rubles. The price range is determined by the metal of the frame.

What affects the cost of black pearls

The estimated cost of this dark mineral directly depends on the size, quality and thickness of the mother-of-pearl layer.

What is important is the intensity of the shine, which is easy to see when placing the pearl on a white material.

High-grade stones have very bright reflections.

Price

The cost of black pearls depends on many factors: the size and shape of the grains, origin, intensity of luster and thickness of the nacre.

Natural pearls are considered the most expensive due to their rarity and natural origin. Its price, depending on the size of the grains, varies between $1000-10000.

Cultured sea pearls are a little cheaper - from $100 to $1000, depending on color and size. River cultured mineral can be purchased even cheaper - in the range of $20-100 for 1 pearl, depending on the size.

What are black pearls?

People knew about the existence of this precious stone long before the advent of our era; ancient chronicles testify to this. The mineral is of organic origin, as it is created inside the shell of a mollusk capable of producing nacre.

History tells us that people from ancient times treated pearls with great respect, they admired their beauty and sought to decorate their clothes, hats, armor and weapons with them.

Previously, humanity often thought about the question of how a pearl is formed. Today people know that the mineral is formed due to the entry of a foreign object, such as sand, into the oyster shell, which over time becomes enveloped in mother-of-pearl. It can take a mollusk up to 20 years to create one pearl. Real sea or river pearls come in the following forms:

• Oblong;
• In the form of a grain of rice;
• Spherical;
• Drop shape;
• Baroque;
• Blister;
• Semi-Baroque;
• Push-button form;
• Beads.

Pricing for products with pearls depends on many factors, for example, a mineral mined in fresh waters is valued less than one that was removed from an oyster in the sea. The color of freshwater is most often white or pink; black is almost never found.

The highest price is for perfectly even, round, large and smooth black pearls; minerals of this type are mined off the coast of Tahiti.

Previously, people could not even think about where to look for black pearls, since, for example, Europeans did not suspect their existence until the 15th century. This type of pearl was discovered for European countries by Hernando Cortes. Today, the city of La Paz, located in the Gulf of California, thanks to him, flourishes due to the mining of black pearls.

Black pearls often become inset stones in jewelry. But jewelry with them is very expensive and not everyone can afford it. Then cultured pearls will come to the rescue. If we answer the question of how this type of mineral is obtained, then it is worth saying that it is also formed inside the shell of a mollusk, but a person closely monitors its development, influencing its color, size and shape. It can take up to 7 years to form one cultured large pearl. Small precious pearls can be obtained in about two years.

The cost of cultivated Burmitz grain is much lower than natural grain, but it is not inferior in beauty. Modern ladies greatly value jewelry with pearls, trying to purchase rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets decorated with them, since these products will be appropriate in any situation and will give their owner special sophistication and sophistication.

Due to the high demand for pearls, including black Tahitian pearls, scammers are trying to make money by creating imitation pearls that are practically indistinguishable from the original. Therefore, before purchasing a product with pearls, it is important to know how to recognize a fake.

How to find out the origin of pearls

Ring in 585 white gold with black Tahiti pearls and diamonds.
There are several types of pearls on the stone market, each of which has corresponding characteristics and cost. To distinguish natural pearls from cultured or artificial pearls, you should pay attention to the following nuances:

• Sea cultured pearls have a predominantly shiny and smooth surface.
• Freshwater pearls, on the contrary, have an irregular shape, and lack shine and pearlescent tint.
• Ideal smoothness, uniform color and correct shape indicate that the pearls are artificial.
• Discolored pearls can be identified by drilling a hole in them. At the site of mechanical impact, detachment of mother-of-pearl will be detected.
• Instead of black pearls, sometimes the buyer is offered hematite in dark shades. To recognize a fake, you need to run a pearl across the surface of unglazed porcelain. If there is a trace in the form of a red stripe, then it is not a pearl, but hematite.
• Real or cultured pearls always have minor imperfections on the surface.

When buying pearls, you should pay attention to the price and ask the seller for a quality certificate, which indicates the origin of the mineral and its main characteristics.

How to wear pearls

Black pearls are good on their own, without a setting. They are like this in necklaces or bracelets. For other jewelry, the gem is set in gold, platinum, and silver.

1. The jewelry is suitable for casual or dressy clothing.
2. For bright, self-sufficient ladies, a combination with gold is suitable. For soft natures, such a duet will become a source of excitement.
3. The black mineral only seems so. In fact, it is dark gray with tints of green, red, eggplant or olive. The valuable Tahitian has a cobalt blue tone. Therefore, it is easy to choose the right tone for clothes of any color.
4. Warm shades of beige and greenish tint may suit dark-skinned women, cold shades – for ladies with fair skin.

A gift with a black pearl from a loved one is a sign of his devotion and fidelity.

How to store and care?

Black pearls require careful care, as they are not resistant to adverse influences. To preserve the original appearance of the mineral, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

• Store products with it in a separate box, case or fabric bag in such a way as to prevent friction between the pearls.
• The temperature in the room where pearls are stored should be room temperature and the humidity level should be average. With excessive humidity, the mineral can swell, and in dry air, it can dry out and crumble.
• Black pearls are very fragile, so even the slightest mechanical impact should not be allowed.
• To wash pearls, use clean running water and dry them naturally. It is recommended to rinse the mineral in salted water twice a year.
• Pearls do not tolerate temperature changes well, so you should not take them with you on trips to countries with different climatic conditions.

If the pearls are set in precious metal, then for complete cleaning and to avoid damage, it is recommended to take them to a jewelry workshop.

Characteristics of the jewel

Interestingly, pearls are not classified as minerals, but, according to accepted standards, are valued as a precious stone . And although it does not shimmer and sparkle as much as diamonds or sapphires, it has some special radiance: cold, calm, noble. It is not for nothing that in ancient times these large stones symbolized the Moon with its cold light.

One of the secrets of the black stone is its shape. It can be round or oval, but its shape is ideal . This is one of the rare jewels that does not require treatment. Since pearls grow inside oysters, their formation depends on the vital activity of these organisms. Therefore, specimens with various defects, for example, spots and irregularities, are often formed. The cost of the product depends on the presence of defects. Nevertheless, many people prefer to buy not ideal samples, but those that have some imperfections. It is believed that they give pearls a special charm.

It is also interesting that the color range of pearls is not limited to just a charcoal-dark shade.

They can be dark gray, green, blue . Matte blacks are much less common in nature. Jewels of this color are found in a special type of oyster - Pinctada margaritifera, which is one of the largest oysters in the world.

Why are dark pearls considered so valuable? The fact is that under natural conditions they are extremely rare - in one oyster out of fifteen thousand. The difficulty of extraction, as well as the unusual shade, determine the value.

Black pearls and zodiac signs

Black pearl is a sea mineral, therefore in astrology it primarily protects the signs of the Zodiac belonging to the element of Water:

• Scorpio - this sign has an ideal interaction with the energy of black pearls thanks to the patronage of Pluto and Mars. The stone will illuminate life with joyful moments and bring success in love affairs.
• Cancer - can wear any type of mineral as a talisman against hostility from others, as well as a talisman of good luck and the development of talent.
• Pisces - should pay attention to freshwater pearls. The stone will bring good luck and success, provided that its owner shows confidence and determination.

Black pearls are also suitable for Aquarius and Gemini. For these zodiac signs, the mineral acts as a protector against betrayal, betrayal, gossip and the machinations of ill-wishers. In case of negative influence from the outside, the stone becomes dull.

Aries, Taurus, Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius and Capricorn are not prohibited from contacting black pearls, however, the mineral will not bring the desired result either.

It is not recommended for Leos to wear black pearls.

Where do these pearls come from?

Formally, any type of oyster can create a black pearl. In practice, the ratio is one to 15 thousand.

The “parent” of this pearl is the mollusk Pinctada margaritifera, which lives in the warm waters of Polynesia and produces the standard black pearl pigment.

Specimens from the vicinity of the island of Tahiti are recognized as the highest quality - their color description is closest to the reference one. More often, against the black background of pearls, lilac, eggplant, marsh, and crimson shades are distinguishable. The most valuable are stones with iridescent colors of deep twilight.

How to dye pearls

To obtain colored pearls, they are cultured in different types of mollusks. The inner surface of the shells consists of the same substances as the pearl, so its pigment determines the color of the pearls.

For example, the Royal Strombus clam produces a deep pink pearl. A similar shade is also grown in giant tridacnas.

The Haliotis mollusk produces a blue-green color with many iridescences, and the shells themselves are used for decoration or art objects.

The golden-colored pearls are grown inside the melon shell.

Pearl grading

The stone is assessed according to the following criteria:

• presence of gloss;
• severity of defects;
• degree of coincidence in the product;
• form;
• mother of pearl thickness.

The criteria for classifying cultured pearls into a certain quality class are given in the table:

The cost of a mineral depends on the quality class, size, color, shape. There are also differences in price gradation between types. For example, South Sea pearls are much more expensive than akoya.

How are price and frame related?

The price of cultured pearl jewelry depends not only on the quality class, but also on the metals used in the product.

• For example, the price of a silver ring with cultured pearls is 1500-2500 rubles.
• The same gold ring costs 10,000-20,000 rubles.
• The proportion of metal in necklaces and bracelets is small.
• The cost of a silver bracelet will be 3,000, and a gold bracelet will be 10,000-15,000 rubles.

The magic of pearls

From time immemorial, it was believed that this “gift of water” endows a person with longevity and beauty, because it was not without reason that Queen Cleopatra herself drank a potion that included a pearl dissolved in vinegar. In addition, she constantly wore jewelry with this stone.

Pearls are able to charge a person with energy and give him additional strength, pushing him to use his hidden internal resources. Black pearl loves strong people who are able to overcome life's obstacles with their heads held high. He gives such people success and protection.

Also, a black pearl deprives a person of pride, arrogance and excessive vanity, leaving him with those character traits that will make him noble.

Who Shouldn't Wear Black Pearls

Like other types of pearls, this is a very capricious material and requires some care. Bath periodically, store in a dark place in linen and periodically walk so that the pearls touch the body. But the last point also contains danger.

This is due to the reactions of any pearl to the host’s illness. If the disease is serious and a person is in contact with such a decoration, then at a minimum it will go out, at a maximum it may collapse.

When purchasing such jewelry, you should take into account the external data of the future owner and her belief in signs and horoscope and, of course, character. Well, if this is a cry from the soul, then you should listen to your inner voice.