Can pearls be white?
Sarah Scott
Updated on May 28, 2026
Perhaps the best-loved gems of all time, pearls—both natural and modern cultured pearls—occur in a wide variety of colors. The most familiar colors are white and cream (a light yellowish brown). Black, gray, and silver are also fairly common, but the palette of pearl colors extends to every hue.
Can real pearls be white?
White PearlsThe white pearl is considered a symbol of purity, and is often associated with wedding and graduation celebrations. Pearls that grow with a natural white color include akoya pearls, freshwater pearls, South Sea pearls, and even occasional Tahitian pearls, which are most often dark.
What Colour are white pearls?
White Freshwater PearlsBody Color: Usually a warm white, sometimes a “cool” white. Sizes: White Freshwater pearls can be as tiny as 1.0 mm seed pearls up to 12.0 mm, and even larger.
Is a white pearl rare?
Akoya pearls are the most popular white pearl type.Akoya pearls range in size from 2mm up to 11mm (9.5mm+ is considered very rare).