Black Pearl Necklace

Black pearl doesn't do the job white pearl does. White pearl looks for harmony with what you're wearing; black pearl sets up a contrast. Wear the same necklace with a light shirt and with a black dress and you get two different results.

Narrow Range of Lengths, Wide Range of Pearl Sizes

Necklace lengths sit mainly around 42 cm, and most have a 3 cm extension chain. So in this category the real choice isn't length, it's the size of the pearl.

Pearl size runs from 7-8 mm up to 11-12 mm. Helena at 7-8 mm is on the plainer side. Avery at 11-12 mm is the most pronounced. The gap shows more on black pearl than on white, because a dark colour already draws the eye.

There Is a Baroque Option Too

Rylee uses black baroque pearl which is both dark and irregular in form. Put those two together and the result looks a long way from a classic pearl necklace.

The surface of a black pearl throws back more green and purple reflections than a white one. In baroque form those reflections land in a different place on every bead, so the necklace changes with the light.

Metal Selection

Most models are brass with gold plating. Gold sets up a strong contrast with black pearl, and it is the most chosen combination in this category.

Rylee 925 sterling silver. Silver with black pearl gives a cooler, calmer result and doesn't draw the eye the way gold does. It is also the safe one for anyone with a metal allergy.

Where Does It Feel Comfortable?

Black pearl stays plain in daylight and becomes pronounced in evening light. That makes it a practical choice for anyone who doesn't want to change jewellery between the office and dinner.

Against light colours the necklace itself comes forward. Against black and navy it doesn't compete with the clothing and shows only where it catches the light.

In short

• Plain look: 7-8 mm, Helena.
• Pronounced look: 11-12 mm, Avery.
• The furthest from the classical style: Baroque, Rylee.
• Sensitive skin: 925 sterling silver.
• Strong contrast: the gold plated models.
• All the black pearl pieces: black pearl collection.