Skip to content
The Perfect Pearls
Pearl StudioFreshwater pearlsAkoya pearlsTahitian pearlsSouth Sea pearlsSee all: TypesWhite pearlsPink pearlsPurple and lavender pearlsPeach pearlsSee all: ColorsHow to tell if pearls are realReal or fake checkerFake pearlsSee all: Real or fake?Pearl gradingQuality checkerHow much are pearls worth?See all: Quality & valueHow to clean pearlsPearl size chartNecklace lengthsSee all: Care & wearPearl StudioGuess the PearlSee all: Play

Pearl colors

Chocolate pearls

Brown is a natural Tahitian bodycolor, but the deep brown "chocolate" pearls sold in the 2000s were studied by GIA and found to be black Tahitian cultured pearls whose organic material had been bleached.

Try this color in Pearl Studio

Illustration. Screens vary, and real pearls change with the light.

Where chocolate pearls come from

Brown is a natural Tahitian bodycolor, but the deep brown "chocolate" pearls sold in the 2000s were studied by GIA and found to be black Tahitian cultured pearls whose organic material had been bleached.

Pearl types with this color

Natural or treated?

GIA notes natural-color pearls rarely show intense brown without a rosé or orient overtone, so a strong chocolate color should prompt questions. Many treated pearls glow reddish orange under long-wave UV, though not all.

More on pearl treatments, or build this color yourself in Pearl Studio.

Pearls that come in this color

Tahitian pearls The "black pearls." Saltwater pearls from the black-lipped oyster in French Polynesia, usually 8 to 14 mm, in…

Frequently asked questions

Are chocolate pearls natural?

They can be. Brown is a natural Tahitian bodycolor, but the deep brown "chocolate" pearls sold in the 2000s were studied by GIA and found to be black Tahitian cultured pearls whose organic material had been bleached. GIA notes natural-color pearls rarely show intense brown without a rosé or orient overtone, so a strong chocolate color should prompt questions.

Questions from readers

Question about Chocolate pearls? Ask it here. We answer the useful ones on this page.

Ask a question

We can’t reply privately. Useful questions get answered here on the page.

Sources

Checked October 22, 2026.