[Caitlin]

I see black pearls alternating with gemstones that match the gem in the corsage prat of the jewlery when I click through to the larger version. I think those are black, or at least silver pearls on her sleeves too. they are distinctly different in color than the other white pearls in the painting.This portrait shows an austere Queen Mary and the black pearls seem appropriate. This is also the Queen Mary that gave the pink pearl freshwater necklace to the Duke of Norfolk 400 years ago (if I got my Dukes straight!) Anyway those pearls are sti;lll in perfect condition. I am looking for the link..........

One reason black pearls may not have been as popular is their scarcity-in that case royality would snap them all up because their beauty is undeniable. Remember many of the pearls back then were from the new world, the Bay of Cortez, in particular, and we have all seen Douglas' pearls. Back then Bay of Cortez pearls would have looked the same, but would have been solid nacre natural pearls.

17.56x25mm 202.28 grains is 50.6 carats. Weight and measuremnets given in the accompanying text. Now to find some measuresments for Liz's pearl- which looks like it may be larger. I found some measurements that are identical to the above. Therefore I do not think the measurements were taken of the pearl in the picture, but from the current holder of the title- if they are different pearls- and the eye certainly says so.