Black Pearl question

I am looking for a black pearl for my Pirate bracelet and I was wondering if they actually look black on the chain. Doesn't have to be TB--if there is a better alternative.  Thanks for any information.

Well, the history of black pearls 

I seem to remember a release of black pearls, before the peacock pearls,
before the limited releases were actually called "Limited Releases".
With that unhelpful bit, as you may or may not know the peacocks have either a bluish, pinkish, or greenish hue. The older black pearls didn't seem to have the color, but some tended toward brown, or grey. So as for looking black, I can't say! Dark, lovely, but not quite black. 
(Not helpful as usual  )

According to the Museum, the Black pearls were production for a short while in 2001-2, and I think they are now pretty difficult to come by:

http://www.trollbeads.com/united-states/en-us/museum/2001-2005/51701

Whereas the Peacock Pearl was a LE from 2009:

http://www.trollbeads.com/united-states/en-us/museum/2006-2010/51706

Here are my black pearls and some of peacock pearls if that helps. The two black pearls are at the ends - one is black and the other is brown. My peacock pearls are greeny, pinky, purpley and silvery-greyish:



Good luck with your quest!

My two black pearls are brown. I love them dearly.

The old "black" pearls did vary too.
I have a brown, dark purple, dark green one and yes, one is actually black/intense dark grey.
Compared to the peacock pearls I'd say, the color was more dark/intense.
Good luck for your hunt (probably will be easier to find a non TB).

Does anyone else make Peacock Pearls ?

My black pearl is brown too. I think you have to be careful now if you are looking for a black one as you could be  buying a peacock one.
If you get a brown one then you know its what is called a black pearl

Fuzzyfeet wrote:Does anyone else make Peacock Pearls ?

yes please - I would be very interested too!!!!

it's a bit of a cheat but I use black silks to represent black pearls on my pirate bracelet.

Novobeads has a black pearl, it looks good in the pic!

trollcat wrote:Well, the history of black pearls 

I seem to remember a release of black pearls, before the peacock pearls,
before the limited releases were actually called "Limited Releases".
With that unhelpful bit, as you may or may not know the peacocks have either a bluish, pinkish, or greenish hue. The older black pearls didn't seem to have the color, but some tended toward brown, or grey. So as for looking black, I can't say! Dark, lovely, but not quite black. 
(Not helpful as usual  )

The history is helpful.  It wasn't very clear to me.

Amanda Mac (Dot) wrote:According to the Museum, the Black pearls were production for a short while in 2001-2, and I think they are now pretty difficult to come by:

http://www.trollbeads.com/united-states/en-us/museum/2001-2005/51701

Whereas the Peacock Pearl was a LE from 2009:

http://www.trollbeads.com/united-states/en-us/museum/2006-2010/51706

Here are my black pearls and some of peacock pearls if that helps. The two black pearls are at the ends - one is black and the other is brown. My peacock pearls are greeny, pinky, purpley and silvery-greyish:



Good luck with your quest!

Thanks for your photos, yours are beautiful!  

niceday wrote:My black pearl is brown too. I think you have to be careful now if you are looking for a black one as you could be  buying a peacock one.
If you get a brown one then you know its what is called a black pearl

That was my fear...not being able to tell the difference with the peacock.

Reive wrote:it's a bit of a cheat but I use black silks to represent black pearls on my pirate bracelet.

This is what I have done so far, just used black beads with my silvers...but thought I would look for a pearl.

trollcat wrote:Novobeads has a black pearl, it looks good in the pic!

That one does look good! And one of my pirates is from Novobeads.....hmmmm. I might go for that one.

Does anyone have any pearls from them?

kyhalfpt wrote:

trollcat wrote:Novobeads has a black pearl, it looks good in the pic!

That one does look good!  And one of my pirates is from Novobeads.....hmmmm. I might go for that one.  

Does anyone have any pearls from them?

I don't have any Novobeads pearls but I know someone who ordered them online and was disappointed in the size and luster. Maybe you can find a retailer who is willing to take photos so you can choose. Another retailer who carries black pearls is Biagi, but I don't have any either so cannot attest to their quality. The natural pearls can have shapes that are not quite round and surface imperfections.

http://www.beadloverskorner.com/Carlo-Biagi-Beads-Pearl.html

Occasionally the stone bead artisans will get in some pearls and core them. Check with Liana Beads or BabSBeads on Facebook. And I expect there are other artisans on Etsy and Dawanda.

Thanks everyone for all the information and help!  I found two On FB this morning and bought them--now I just have to wait for them to arrive...

They will be the only pearls I have except for the anniversary bracelet, so hopefully they do not create pearl envy...

Wow, some impressive (and impressively pricey) carved pearls:
http://www.trollbeadbracelets.com/content/category.cfm?sessionid=873020515103804784&site_id=5&category_id=784

Mine, only one, is small ugly and brown

kyhalfpt wrote:Thanks everyone for all the information and help!  I found two On FB this morning and bought them--now I just have to wait for them to arrive...

They will be the only pearls I have except for the anniversary bracelet, so hopefully they do not create pearl envy...

LOL - that was a quick quest!! Do post photos when they arrive

Just for comparison - on the Dragon Bracelet are all my "black pearls" - in fact they are all shades of brown:

The one at little past twelve was a great find in a shop in Denmark some years ago - for a black pearl it is really big and has a wonderful chocolate brown. The little one on 9 a´clock I got on ebay and when it arrived I wasn´t really sure if it really was a "black" one or a peacock - comparing it to my peacocks it become clear that it is a black one:

They are all either peacocks or rose pearls (I prefer the ones that turned out to be more champagne) - the only none TB is the white one (Macrow)
It is annoying that I wasn´t able to catch the different shades - one is more green, the other one more like red wine and two are more dove grey......

Amanda Mac (Dot) wrote:

kyhalfpt wrote:Thanks everyone for all the information and help!  I found two On FB this morning and bought them--now I just have to wait for them to arrive...

They will be the only pearls I have except for the anniversary bracelet, so hopefully they do not create pearl envy...

LOL - that was a quick quest!! Do post photos when they arrive

Yes, someone was selling two that looked pretty well matched and pretty dark in their photos--will have to see when I get them. I didn't think I should pass them up, especially after seeing your bracelet with one at each end! I will definitely post photos when they a Arrive!

Mabel wrote:Just for comparison - on the Dragon Bracelet are all my "black pearls" - in fact they are all shades of brown:

The one at little past twelve was a great find in a shop in Denmark some years ago - for a black pearl it is really big and has a wonderful chocolate brown. The little one on 9 a´clock I got on ebay and when it arrived I wasn´t really sure if it really was a "black" one or a peacock - comparing it to my peacocks it become clear that it is a black one:

They are all either peacocks or rose pearls (I prefer the ones that turned out to be more champagne) - the only none TB is the white one (Macrow)
It is annoying that I wasn´t able to catch the different shades - one is more green, the other one more like red wine and two are more dove grey......

Wow!  Mabel, yours are beautiful too! I love all the different shades!