The parable is very short and is evidently intended to emphasize the two truths, the costliness of the pearl and the delight of the purchaser.  It stops at the completion of the purchase.  We are not told what became of pearl when it passed into the possession of Him who paid the price.

We are specially told that the purchaser was a merchantman.  He was a connoisseur, and knew all about pearls.  He would not be taken in by a sham pearl, or be disappointed in it afterwards because he detected some flaw.  He did not grudge the price for he knew the value, and never regretted his purchase. A typical oriental trader, the merchant keeps a straight face while making the transaction.

Who but a king would wear such a gem? for the merchantman IS the King who says, “They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels”.

Pearl.  The only gem taken from the sea or formed within a living organism.  Pearls are lustrous, milky-white or black objects formed when oysters coat irritating grains of sand or other foreign objects with layers of a protective secretion.  Note:  Out of dust we were created; we were formed of dust/sand.  We are the pearl of great value.

In this painting the Merchant has lavender eyes drawing relational attention to the violet toned, black pearl imbedded in His heart.  The color symbolizes the ultimate royalty of our King and Savior.  The black pearl is used as opposed to a white pearl to represent the blackness of our state, yet valuableness in His eyes.  (Note:  black pearls are more rare and thus more valuable.)