Which black pearl necklace is best?

A black pearl necklace is an excellent gift, whether shopping for a loved one or treating yourself. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can select from various sizes, qualities and types of pearls for your necklace.

While black pearls can be quite costly, many affordable options are available. With a bit of education, you can strike the perfect balance between quality and price to make an excellent purchase.

In this article: The Pearl Source Round Black Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Necklace, Dengguang Store Tahitian Black Pearl Pendant Necklace and The Pearl Source Akoya Japanese Black Pearl Necklace.

What is a black pearl necklace?

When an irritant such as a parasite enters an oyster or mussel, the organism secretes layers of nacre. According to the NIH, by weight, nacre is a bio-mineral made of 95% aragonite and 1% to 5% of an organic binding agent named conchiolin. The substance forms around the irritant and solidifies into the same material as its interior shell.

Time, location and method of inception determine a pearl's size, type and color. However, some pearls used to create a black pearl necklace are artificially dyed.

Black pearl necklace types

The black pearls in your necklace can be made from five types of pearls — excluding those created with plastic and glass.

• Freshwater: These are primarily produced in freshwater lakes and ponds in China and come in various shapes, sizes and colors. Since they are created with human intervention, many pearls typically form in one oyster.
• South Sea: These form in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Depending on the type of oyster, they range from white to golden hues.
• Akoya: These come from Japan and China and are typically white or cream-colored.
• Tahitian: These are harvested around the islands of French Polynesia. While they come in many colors, they are renowned for their black varieties.
• Sea of Cortez: These are found in the Gulf of California, Guaymas and Mexico. Aside from the Tahitian pearl, they produce the only other naturally black pearl.

Black pearls that do not come from naturally black varieties, such as an Akoya pearl, have likely been dyed black.

Black pearl necklace grading

Pearls are typically valued by five primary attributes.

• Size: The individual pearls that create a black pearl necklace are measured in millimeters, from 2 mm to 20 mm in diameter. The bigger they are, the more valuable they are.
• Luster quality: The thickness of a pearl's nacre determines its luster quality, which can be poor, medium, high or very high. The thicker the nacre, the higher its quality and the more brilliantly it will shine.
• Shape: The pearls in your black pearl necklace come in round, semi-round, baroque and circle baroque. The rounder they are, the better.
• Surface quality: Since tiny crystals form the pearl, its texture is naturally somewhat gritty. They are either heavily spotted, moderately spotted, lightly spotted or clean. The less gritty or flawed its surface is, the more valuable it is.
• Type: The freshwater, Akoya, South Sea, Tahitian and Sea of Cortez varieties. Since black pearls occur naturally in Tahitian and Sea of Cortez pearls, they are the most valuable.

To value a black pearl, experts compile data about its type, luster, shape and surface to assign it a grade. Since there are many grading systems, check the source's grading scale to understand your pearl's quality.

What’s the best black pearl necklace to buy?

The Pearl Source Round Black Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Necklace

Dazzle everyone with this diamond-accented Tahitian pearl pendant set in 14 karat gold with a matching 18-inch chain. You can select your pearl's diameter between 8 mm and 11 mm.

Sold by Amazon

Dengguang Store Tahitian Black Pearl Pendant Necklace

This elegant necklace has a quality Tahitian black pearl with a diameter of 10 mm to 11 mm. The pendant is set in 18 karat gold, and the chain is made from sterling silver.

Sold by Amazon

Macy’s Cultured Black Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Accent Pendant Necklace

This refined pendant necklace has a single 12 mm black Tahitian pearl accented with diamonds. It hangs on a 14-karat chain that has a spring ring clasp.

Sold by Macy's

Macy’s Cultured Baroque Tahitian 17.5-inch Pearl Necklace

This is a stunning baroque string of Tahitian pearls (between 8 mm to 9 mm each), and it measures 17.5 inches long. This necklace is set in sterling silver and closes with a lobster clasp.

Sold by Macy’s

Belle De Mer 18-inch Cultured Freshwater Black Pearl Necklace

This smart 18-inch necklace is made from five 8 mm cultured freshwater black pearls. It is set in a 14-karat gold cable link chain with a spring ring clasp.

Sold by Macy’s

Macy’s Dyed Black Cultured Freshwater Pearl Strand Necklace

Drape yourself in this string of 7 mm freshwater dyed black pearls. This black pearl necklace is 34 inches long and closes with a sterling silver lobster clasp.

Sold by Macy’s

The Pearl Source Tahitian Princess Length Black Pearl Necklace

Treat yourself with a string of round Tahitian black pearls with a thick, iridescent nacre. The necklace comes with a 14-karat gold clasp.

Sold by Amazon

Simply Vera Vera Wang Black Freshwater Pearl and Diamond Accent Drop Pendant

This is an 18-inch lustrous freshwater black pearl necklace with diamond accents. It has a single black 6 mm dyed pearl hanging on a sterling silver cable.

Sold by Kohl’s

The Pearl Source Akoya Japanese Black Pearl Necklace

Adorn yourself with this 18-inch string of Japanese Akoya dyed black pearls. You can select pearls ranging from 5 mm to 9 mm with a 14-karat gold clasp.

Sold by Amazon

The Pearl Source Baroque Black Freshwater Pearl Necklace

This is a 16-inch string of dyed 9 mm to 10 mm black pearls with a baroque shape. The pearls are high quality, and the clasp is made of sterling silver.

Sold by Amazon

Worth checking out

• If you are looking for an extremely affordable string of faux black pearls, the Grace Jun Layered Place Pearl Necklace is a fantastic option.
• This Splendid Pearls Single Floating Black Freshwater Pearl Necklace is an excellent solution for those looking for an affordable yet sleek 17-inch necklace with a genuine pearl.
• The Regalia by Ulti Ramos Black Akoya Baroque Pearl Necklace is an affordable string of pearls ranging from 18 inches to 36 inches long.

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Ella Scott writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.