At Perlas Orquídea we have specialised in pearls since 1952, and we know that stepping into the world of pearls is fascinating but
can also be confusing. That is why we have created this complete guide: to help you discover the different types of pearls, their
colours, shapes and characteristics, and to teach you how to recognise the quality and authenticity of each piece.
Here you will find all the information you need before choosing your pearl, from classic saltwater pearls to the
emblematic Mallorca Pearls, including their origin, culturing processes and sustainability. We want every piece you choose to reflect experience, craftsmanship, and a piece of the island.
A cultured pearl is a genuine pearl. Not an imitation, not an artificial pearl. It is the result of the same biological process that produces a natural pearl, with one single difference: instead of a foreign body entering the mollusc by accident, it is a human being who introduces it in a controlled way to trigger the formation of the pearl.
From that moment on, nature does the rest. The mollusc coats that nucleus with successive layers of nacre, the same substance that forms a natural pearl, over months or even years, until it creates an authentic pearl with the same lustre, the same structure and the same beauty.
Most of the pearls sold today are cultured, and that does not lessen their value, quite the opposite. Natural pearls, formed without human intervention, are extremely scarce and harvesting them can seriously damage marine ecosystems. That is why the jewellery world has opted for cultured pearls: a controlled process that guarantees sustainability, respects the environment and keeps the authenticity and beauty of every pearl intact.
Pearl culturing is one of the few jewellery industries with a positive environmental impact. Pearl farms can only thrive in clean waters and healthy marine ecosystems, which makes pearl farmers natural guardians of the marine environment. No seabeds are destroyed, no reefs are disturbed, no pollution is generated. The oyster does the work. The human being simply gives it the opportunity.
At Perlas Orquídea we have worked with Mallorca Pearls since our very beginnings. They are our flagship product and the one that best represents us.
Mallorca Pearls are not produced in the sea. They are made entirely by hand on land, in our workshops on the island with more than half a century of history. The process consists of creating the opaline core, sorting the cores to discard any with imperfections, and then immersing them dozens of times in our formula made from natural pigments, polishing between each layer until they reach the warm, deep, silky lustre that makes them unmistakable.
It is a process that has not changed in essence since it was invented in Mallorca at the end of the 19th century: only the expert hands of the artisans and materials of natural origin. No sea farms, no intervention in ecosystems, with a minimal environmental footprint. A Mallorca Pearl is, in every sense, a sustainable piece of jewellery with an identity of its own.
Because the materials they are made from are of natural origin and their production process involves no intervention whatsoever in the marine environment. No farms, no molluscs, no extraction of resources from the sea. Their environmental footprint is minimal, which makes them the most sustainable option in the world of pearl jewellery.
Because they combine an exceptional finish with a unique identity. Because they have
decades of Mallorcan craftsmanship behind them. Because they are hard-wearing and stable in colour and
shape. And because when you wear a Mallorca Pearl, you wear a piece of the island.
Mother-of-pearl is the basis of every pearl and the origin of its lustre and colour. It comes from the inner layer of the mollusc and is responsible for the nacre that coats the nucleus in cultured pearls. Its quality determines the intensity of the lustre, the depth of the colour and the smoothness to the touch.
As well as being the essence of the pearl, mother-of-pearl has an aesthetic and artisan value of its own: it can be worked directly in jewellery to create unique, delicate pieces, such as small inlays or details on pendants and earrings. Every fragment of mother-of-pearl has variations of colour and reflections that make each piece unrepeatable, bringing character and authenticity to the finished piece.
The most classic shape, the most highly valued and the hardest to obtain. A perfectly spherical pearl is the result of a longer, more careful culturing process, with very precise conditions that the pearl farmer cannot fully control. That is why they are the scarcest and the most prized. Ideal for classic necklaces, stud earrings and pieces that aim for timeless elegance.
One perfectly round face, the other flat. This particularity makes them especially versatile in jewellery: the flat side makes setting easier, which makes them a very popular choice for earrings and rings where the pearl sits flush against the metal and the rounded face looks outwards.
More surface and less volume than spherical pearls. Their visual effect is modern and different from the classic pearl, which has made them favourites among contemporary jewellery designers. A well-set flat pearl can be as striking as any precious stone.
Coin-shaped: round, flat and with defined edges. Their clean, almost artificial geometry makes them perfect for minimalist and architectural designs. They work especially well layered: several coin elements together create a very appealing visual rhythm.
Irregular, asymmetrical, unique and unrepeatable in shape. The term "baroque" comes from the Portuguese barocco, meaning imperfect, but in contemporary jewellery that imperfection is exactly what makes them so valuable. Every baroque pearl is a different organic sculpture. Light plays across its curves and folds in a way no perfectly round pearl can replicate. They are the favourites of the most creative designers and of anyone looking for a truly exclusive piece.
Keshi pearls are an accident of nature turned into a rarity. They form when the mollusc rejects the implanted nucleus but continues producing nacre, creating a pearl entirely without a nucleus, made one hundred per cent of pure nacre. The result is a pearl of extraordinary lustre, with very distinctive organic shapes, generally flat or petal-like, and a luminosity that surpasses most others. They are small, delicate and relatively scarce, which makes them especially prized by collectors and independent designers.
The most feminine and elegant silhouette of all. Elongated, with one rounded end and one tapered, the teardrop pearl makes the most of its shape in movement. A pair of drop earrings with teardrop pearls has a grace that few pieces of jewellery can match. They are also widely used in pendants where the pearl is the absolute centrepiece.
Their shape recalls a grain of rice: oval, slightly elongated and delicate. It is one of the most versatile shapes in jewellery, especially in bracelets, long necklaces and drop earrings, where movement and the accumulation of several elements enhance their elegance.
Oval with a gentle irregularity that gives them a very distinctive natural, organic look. They are perhaps the shape that best balances the elegance of the classic pearl with the authenticity of the handmade, which is why they have become one of the most sought-after shapes in contemporary jewellery.
Collections that combine different shapes in a single piece or set. The result is designs with visual rhythm, energy and a very distinct personality. Perfect for anyone who wants to move away entirely from the conventional and wear something that looks like nothing else.
The pearl's most iconic colour, yet within white there is a universe of nuances that few people know. Pure white, pinkish white, cream white, silvery white. Pinkish white is the most prized in classic jewellery for the warmth it brings against the skin. Silvery white has an elegant coolness that brings it closer to a more contemporary aesthetic. Choosing the right shade of white can completely change a piece.
Black pearls have a different kind of elegance: more mysterious, more sophisticated, more unexpected. Their colour is not an absolute black but a range of dark tones — anthracite grey, peacock green, midnight blue — that shift with the light. Combined with white gold or silver they take on a very appealing visual tension. They are one of the most sought-after options in high-value jewellery and contemporary design.
The scarcest and most exclusive colour. Golden pearls range from a soft champagne to a deep, intense gold, and their rarity automatically makes them pieces of special value. Set on yellow gold they create a warmth and luminosity that is hard to match with any other combination of gem and metal.
Copper-coloured pearls stand out for their warmth and natural sophistication. Their tone recalls the light of sunset reflected on sand and brings a unique nuance that does not go unnoticed. Within copper there are subtle variations, from soft, almost golden tones to intense oranges and deep reddish shades, each with its own personality.
Grey pearls stand out for their understated elegance and sophisticated character. This is not a uniform grey: within this range you will find tones from soft silver to deep anthracite, with reflections that shift with the light and bring energy to the piece.
This colour is ideal for anyone looking for a versatile piece that works with different styles and metals, especially silver and platinum, enhancing the modernity and refinement of the pearl.
For anyone who does not want to choose, or who wants their jewellery to tell a more complex story. Multicolour pearls combine different tones in a single piece, creating a vibrant, lively effect full of character. The result can look like exuberant nature or like a carefully calculated design; either way, a piece with a personality of its own.
