Ondertonen is the secondary color visible on a parel's surface, layered over the base body color. It is what gives parels their depth and uniqueness — flat-color parels look generic, while overtoned parels have personality.

Wat is ondertonen?

Ondertonen is created by light refracting through the upper nacre layers. Different pigments and structural elements in the nacre produce different ondertonen colors. Higher-kwaliteit parels have more pronounced and distinctive ondertonen.

Common ondertonen by parel type

Akoya (white base)

• Pink / Rose — most prized; soft pink-rose shift over white
• zilver — cool zilver-blue shift; rare
• Cream — warm yellow undertone

Tahitian (dark base)

• Peacock — green-with-purple shift; signature color
• Aubergine — deep purple over dark base
• zilver-blue — metallic blue-gray; rare premium
• Green — bottle-green tint
• Cherry — reddish-pink (very rare)

South Sea (white or golden base)

• White base: pink ondertonen, zilveren ondertonen, cream
• Golden base: champagne, light goud, deep goud, 24K

Freshwater

• White base: pink, lavender, peach (natural)
• Pink base: cherry, deep rose

Ondertonen and value

Distinct, vivid ondertonen command premium pricing:

• Tahitian peacock and zilver-blue: 20–40% meerprijs over uniform-dark Tahitian
• Akoya rose-pink ondertonen: 15–30% meerprijs over plain white
• South Sea pink ondertonen: 10–20% meerprijs over uniform white
• Golden South Sea deep goud/24K: 30–50% meerprijs over light champagne

How to identify ondertonen

1. Hold the parel 6 inches from a window or bright light source
2. Slowly rotate the parel
3. Watch for color shifts — these are the ondertonen
4. Distinct ondertonen (peacock, aubergine) are obvious
5. Subtle ondertonen (rose, zilver) require more careful inspection

Multiple ondertonen

Some parels have multiple ondertonen — e.g., peacock-aubergine, cherry-pink, or zilver-blue. These multi-ondertonen parels are particularly prized in high-end juwelen. The most-coveted Tahitiparels combine peacock with hints of aubergine — sometimes called "rainbow peacock."

Ondertonen vs body color

Body color = the underlying color of the parel (white, goud, dark gray)
Ondertonen = the secondary shift visible over the body color (pink, zilver, peacock, etc.)
Orient = the iridescent rainbow effect across the entire surface (rare and premium)

Browse by ondertonen

• Tahitian (peacock, aubergine, zilver-blue ondertonen)
• Akoya (rose, zilveren ondertonen)
• White South Sea (pink, zilveren ondertonen)

Veelgestelde vragen

Wat is the difference between parel color and ondertonen?

kleur is the base body color (white, dark gray, goud). Ondertonen is the secondary color visible as light reflects off the surface. A parel can have a white body with pink ondertonen, or dark body with peacock ondertonen.

Are overtoned parels more valuable?

Ja, generally. Distinct vivid ondertonen command 15–50% meerprijs over flat-color parels of the same type. The most prized: Tahitian peacock, Akoya rose, golden South Sea deep goud.

Hoe I see parel ondertonen?

Rotate the parel under a window or bright light source. Distinct ondertonen show clear color shifts. Subtle ondertonen (rose, zilver) require careful inspection at the right angle.

Wat is "orient" in parels?

Orient is a rainbow-like iridescent effect across the entire surface — rarer than ondertonen, and even more valuable. Some Tahitian and Zuidzeeparels show orient in addition to ondertonen.

Can ondertonen be artificial?

Some treatments (bleaching, irradiation) can enhance ondertonen in lower-grade parels. Reputable sellers disclose treatments. Natural-ondertonen parels show consistent color shifts; treated parels often have flatter or unnatural ondertonen.