The color and uniformity of chromaticity are important indicators to measure pearl value.The study of pearl color and shell nacre color involves many disciplinary fields.Previous studies have show that the color of pearl is in line with the correspondent shell nacre color of the mantle of the donor mussel and that the shell nacre color of pearl is determined by genetic factors.Existing researches still cannot give a systematic and reasonable explanation about the mechanism of shell nacre color formation. However, it is known that metal elements, porphyrin, carotenoid, and physical structure may be closely related to the nacre color formation. A little organic matrix in the nacre, which is constituted of proteins, can control the structure of pearl nacre and the formation of color. Thus, the organic matrix may be the key factor to determine the color formation of pearl nacre. This article describes the research progress of the pearl color and the shell nacre color, discusses the influencing factor of pearl color, and proposes ideas for further in-depth study of pearl and the nacre color.