Iridescence

Iridescence is the phenomenon of certain surfaces that appear gradually to change colour as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. Iridescence is caused by wave interference of light in microstructures or thin films. Examples of iridescence include soap bubbles, feathers, butterfly wings and seashell nacre, and minerals such as opal.

Pearlescence is a related effect where some or most of the reflected light is white.
The term pearlescent is used to describe certain paint finishes, usually in the automotive industry, which actually produce iridescent effects.

Back to Grading & Value →

Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

JEWELPEARL

Pearls, understood — types and grading, sizing and care, and the calculators that take the guesswork out of buying and stringing them.

Get new guides by emailOccasional emails. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

InformationAbout Contact Privacy Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Affiliate Disclosure Cookie Policy

Every entry, image, and fact is drawn from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, used under public-domain and Creative Commons licenses. No content is AI-generated.