Pearl Buying Guide

Where to Buy a Pearl

The fanciest pearl jewelry is available at PearlsOfJoy.com.

How to Value a Pearl

Pearls are valued based on a variety of characteristics. There are several methods for determining the value of a pearl that experts use, though nothing a codified as the way diamonds are valued. For a shopper it is usually sufficient to just know the general aspects of pearl value

Luster

One of the first traits to look for is luster. This is the brightness of the pearl. A good pearl should be bright and not dull. The surface of the pearl should be shiny enough to show your reflection. Lower quality pearls will appear too white, dull, or chalky. Spots are also considered problematic.

Surface

The surface should be relatively smooth. Bumps and cracks are signs of poor quality. The cleaner the surface, the higher the value.

Size and Shape

Generally, the more spherical the pearl, the higher it is valued. However, size can often trump shape and often a very large Baroque pearl can be worth more than a smaller round pearl, especially if it has a better luster.

Naturally, all other things being equal, a larger pearl is worth more. Cultured pearls are typically measured in millimeters, with the average size being between seven and seven and a half millimeters. Natural pearls, on the other hand, are measured using carat weight.

Color

Pearls come in a variety of colors including white, gold, off-white, blue, green, pink and black. Generally, white pearls with a pinkish luster are considered to be the most valuable.

Origin

Pearls come from both salt water oysters and freshwater mussels. Pearls from pearl oysters (saltwater pearls) are more valuable than those that come from river and lake mussels (freshwater pearls). Saltwater pearls generally come from Akoya, Japan, or Tahiti, though the can be found throughout the world's oceans. Also, a natural pearl, one created by accident and found in nature, is worth more (sometimes FAR more) than a cultured pearl which a pearl created by a pearl farmer under controlled conditions.

Nacre Thickness

Pearls are made of layers of Nacre. The value of a pearl generally increases with the thickness of the nacre.

Tips

Some jewelers treat pearls with beeswax which may affect the luster, so ask your jeweler about it.

One way to make sure that a pearl is not a face is to rub it against your tooth. It should have a slightly rough feel. A perfectly smooth feel indicates that the pearl is an imitation.

If you are purchasing a natural pearl, use an x-ray to make sure that there is no nucleus which would appear as a solid mass in the center. A natural pearl is formed around a microscopic foreign object in the mollusk and therefore shows no nucleus under an X-Ray