Pearl color is defined by three common descriptive words. The first thing we see when we notice a color is the hue. This is what we name it when we first see a color. “The sky is blue” Blue is the hue. Tone, which is how light or dark the color is. The last term is saturation; this tells us the intensity of the color.

       Pearls have soft colors. When we compare a pearl to the green of an emerald, the pearl does not have the saturation or intensity of color. The hues of pearls run from whites to shades of black.

       Pearl color does show a broad range of color. Pearls start in the brilliant white area and go through the entire spectrum from ivory, gold, pink, and apricot to the other side of the spectrum blues, greens, lavender to purple.

       Within the scope of pearl color there are the basic categories of pearl body color, pearl overtone and pearl orient. Pearl body color is the dominant color. Overtones are the shades or highlights that appear as translucent colors over the body color. And Orient is the shimmering colors that look like the rainbow caused by oil on water.

       Regarding Value, pearl color is a subjective experience. What appeals to one person is a “good” color. Value, in general, can be related to rarity. So rare color may be more valuable. In general, color is related to style and styles may change over time.