The quality of the pearls is a key factor to understand before finally making the purchase of pearl jewelry.
Due to the lack of a pearl grading standard, it is important for consumers to purchase from trusted pearl suppliers who adhere to the highest pearl quality standards.
The quality-value grading measure has to do with 5 key factors.
THE SIZE
As with diamonds, so too with pearls, size contributes to increasing their prices per millimeter upwards.
This is because larger pearls are rarer because they are not easily cultivated and take much longer to produce.
SHAPE
Perfect round pearls are also the most expensive.
This shape is what almost every pearl buyer thinks of when they think of a classic pearl necklace.
After round pearls, the next most popular shapes are Drop, Button and finally Baroque.
THE SURFACE
Another important factor in the value of pearls is the surface i.e. how clean, smooth and flawless a pearl is.
The imperfections that a pearl can have are:
- Abrasions or scratches
- Spots with slight color variations
- Lumps or tiny bubbles on the surface of the pearl
- Wrinkles
Generally, the more imperfections a pearl has, the more its value falls.
THE POLISHING
Perhaps the most important factor in the value of a pearl is the polish which tells us how bright and shiny a pearl is.
Polishing is best described as the shine emanating from the pearl, which is produced by light entering the pearl and reflecting back to the viewer.
The polish of a pearl is directly related to how even and smooth the layers of the pearl are.
High quality pearls can reflect any object near them.
THE COLOR
Pearls come in many colors and shades.
Certain colorings and shades are rarer and therefore more valuable than others and will increase the price of the pearl.
For example, white South Sea pearls with a pale rose pink hue are rarer than pearls with a silver hue and therefore command a higher price.
