What do you look for when buying pearl jewelry? How can one differentiate between different qualities of pearls? What could be the reasonable price for a good a quality pearls?
1)
Size: Pearl size is measured in millimeters. Typically, all other factors being equal, a larger pearl of a certain type is more expensive than a smaller one.
2)
Shape: There are three main categories to pearl shape: spherical, symmetrical, and baroque. An example of a symmetrical pearl is an oval, while baroque pearls are irregular in shape.
3)
Color: With cultured pearls, look at body color and, if present, overtone. Bodycolor is the dominant color of the pearl, while overtone refers to one or more translucent colors that overlie the body color. A third component of some pearls’ color is orient. When present, it looks like a moving iridescence on or just below a pearl’s surface.
4)
Luster: This is the intensity of light reflected from a pearl’s surface. In general, more lustrous pearls will have a higher value. GIA uses the terms excellent, good, and fair to describe luster on cultured pearls.
5)
Surface Grading: This factor looks at the blemishes, or surface irregularities, on a pearl. Typical blemishes include bumps, abrasions, and spots; the visibility of the irregularities will affect the cost. Very few pearls, however, are completely free of blemishes.
6)
Nacre Quality: Fine nacre quality means that a cultured pearl has a reasonable thickness of nacre around the nucleus as well as a high luster.
7)
Matching : This is the uniformity of appearance in strands and multi-pearl pieces of jewelry, and is judged by the consistency of all of the above factors.
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