The genuine pearl in a nice size and has a beautiful reflective luster. It measures about 1" long, 1/4" wide and weighs 1 gram. The pearl is not a dainty one, it's a nice size that measures 7.8 mm and displays beautifully. The stamped bail that was on this pendant was bent, then it split and broke when we tried to straighten it so my jeweler replaced with it with a 14K ring. Tests as 14K and the original bale was stamped but now will have no markings due to the replacement. Any darkness seen in the pearl is just reflection of my black camera off the luster of the pearl and not damage.