Imitation Pearls

At one time, if a cultured pearl was black it was certainly stained artificially, usually by immersion in a solution of silver nitrate.
Natural black pearls do occur, although more rarely than ever, while naturally-colored black cultured pearls from Tahiti and other places are increasingly common due to the use of the black-lipped pearl oyster known as the Pinctada Margaritifera.

However, imitation black pearls are not so common as other color imitations since the true black pearl has a color that is far from being a matte black. In fact, the natural and cultured black pearl both have a beautiful sheen. Sometimes this sheen is a greenish hue against a black background. At other times the sheen is a bluish-black color that is very difficult to adequately describe.

Thus, because of the richness and diversity of their hues or overtones, Tahiti Cultured Pearl colors are very difficult to artificially reproduce. Yet, imitation black colored pearls do exist.