Oh My! A NATURAL Black Pearl! I would suggest getting an appraisal carried out.
Cultured Black Pearls have a bead nucleus. Natural Pearls on the other hand are a complete gift of mother nature. Extremely rare and valuable and size is the most important factor in ascertaining their value. Is your pearl undrilled? The largest and finest pearls are often drilled with the smallest holes, as the slightest loss in weight means a loss in value.
Pearl drilling used to be a laborious process, if a pearl driller could perforate around forty to fifty pearls per day by means of a bow-drill operated by hand he was having a good day. Today, 1500 pearls of average size can be drilled without difficulty in the same time.
In the North Coast of Western Australia around Broome, black pearls from Pinctada Margaratifera Oysters have been cultivated for some years now.
