Hand Trades

Pearls are sophisticated, elegant and stunning no matter if it’s a strand of pearls dangling around your neck, or a single button pearl that sits on your earlobe. For centuries the pearl has been one of the most cherished pieces when it comes to jewelry. In modern times, there is even more options for pearl jewelry as designers are pairing classic pearls with contemporary gemstones and gold to craft phenomenal and modern pieces. When buying a piece of pearl jewelry, it can be confusing and overwhelming as you look at hundreds or even thousands of round beads that all look somewhat similar. How is the everyday person supposed to know what separates one pearl from the next? Keep in mind these 6 categories when purchasing a piece of pearl jewelry and be sure to ask the jeweler or the sales associate for classifications on each of these categories before handing over that little plastic card. Note that these are not all evenly weighted categories- some will weight heavily over others when it comes to overall grading and pricing.

1) Luster: When it comes to cultured pearl enthusiasts, this category is the one many will agree is the most important one when determining quality. Luster is what people use to separate the good from the great, the ordinary from the extraordinary. A pearl’s luster comes from the layers of nacre- the substance that forms the body of the pearl. The nacre causes light to be refracted and shows tiny prisms through the layers which ends up giving the pearl it’s unique appearance. Note that luster is not surface shine.

2) Surface: This is what many people will look for when searching for a pearl. The surface refers to if there are blemishes or imperfections that are visable to the naked eye. Just because a pearl has blemishes or imperfections, don’t rule the pearl out. Something to remember is that pearls are created by living creatures and they are in an environment that is not controlled by humans. As such, blemishes and spots are bound to occur. If you are looking for a truly perfect pearl, be ready to pay a good deal for it as perfect pearls are extremely pricey.

3) Shape: There are 7 different “shapes” of pearls, some more rare than others. The 7 shapes are: round, near-round, oval, drop, full button, baroque and circle. Round or near-round pearls are those that look perfectly round. Pearls that are baroque usually mean that the pearl is in complete free-form shape with no control. Round and near-round pearls are the more sought-after, however, shape really comes down to personal preference.

4) Size: As with most jewelry, the larger the pearl, generally the more expensive it’ll get. Most cultured pearls are measured by their diameter in millimeters. As with shape, size is truly a personal preference. Small pearls are just as beautiful as large ones, but they are “quieter” than large pearls as they might not draw as much attention. Pearls above 15mm generally are rare and highly prized.

5) Color: Pearls range in a variety of colors. While most people stick with white and silver, there are colors like grey, black, rose and gold that are all just as gorgeous. Personal taste comes into play when dealing with color and you should choose a color that you enjoy and one that compliments your skin tone. Be sure to check when buying a pearl if it’s 100% natural in color or if the distributor has enhanced the color in any way.

6) Matching: When buying a strand of pearls, you want to make sure that each pearl matches the one next to it. Unless of course, deliberately buying baroque pearls that are off-beat and never alike. It is important to note that even a “uniform” strand of perfectly alike pearls, therew ill be a graduation of size starting at the middle and working outwards. However, there shouldn’t be a significant size increase from neighboring pearls. It should be gradual and hard to notice from afar.

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