Black pearls are real: the colour comes from the black-lipped oyster Pinctada margaritifera itself. How natural dark colour forms, and how to spot treated or imitation black pearls.

An Akoya pearl is a saltwater cultured pearl grown in the Pinctada fucata oyster, prized for the sharpest lustre of any cultured pearl. What it is, how it's farmed, and how it compares.