Why is black pearl jewelry more expensive than white pearl jewelry?

Black pearls (also known as Black Tahitian Pearls) are extremely rare and difficult to cultivate. Clams and oysters which normally produce natural white pearls rarely produce natural black pearls, while oysters producing natural black pearls hardly ever produce anything at all. Consequentially, most of the black pearl jewelry you encounter is in fact set with cultured black pearls rather than natural black pearls. Since the pearls are not found in large quantities they are valued higher than white pearls (which are not as rare).

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Black pearls are simply much rarer than white pearls and that's why they are more expensive. In nature, black pearls are extremely rare. Black pearl oysters are native to Tahiti and other Pacific islands, and therefore are also sometimes referred to as Tahitian pearls. Black pearls can be cultured - which means grown with human interference, by inserting a nucleus into an oyster. However, the output is small because the oyster often rejects the nucleus. The main differences between white and black pearls are the color and the rarity. If you really like the black pearl stud earrings and can afford the difference in price, you should go for it. Black pearls have an edgier look than classic white pearls, so in my opinion they're much more contemporary.

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