Only about 2 out of 3 survive this process. Of the survivors only about one fourth produce pearls and only 1 in 4 is good enough for export. For example, pearls in the warm waters can develop 20 times faster than those in the colder waters. The typical growth period is between 1-3 years. Color preference is personal preferrence.
Most people choose the color they feel flatters their natural skin tones.
Usually rose or white pearls tend to look best on fair skins while cream and gold toned pearls are flattering to darker complexions. Just as color preference, a preference for round vs. baroque-shaped pearls is a personal . However, the rounder the pearl, the more rare it is. Baroque pearls, which are asymmetrical in shape, although lustrous and appealing, but often less expensive than round pearls. Cultured pearls are measured by their diameter in millimeters.