UV-Vis-NIR reflectance spectroscopy of natural-color saltwater cultured pearls from pinctada margaritifera

Abstract

Natural-color saltwater cultured pearls from Pinctada margaritifera were studied by diffuse reflectance UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy to identify the absorption features associated with their various colors. Nine patterns observed in the visible range demonstrated that individual colors are caused not by one pigment but by a mixture of pigments. © 2011 Gemological Institute of America.