O'PearlArt Pearl Quality

Pearls are unique among gemstones in that they are natural, organic products of living creatures, so they have different grading standards. We want our customers to make informed decisions when they buy pearls from us. O'pearl uses the most commonly used and internationally recognized ranking system: A, A+, AA, AA+, and AAA to grade the pearls featured on our website. On this scale, AAA is gem-quality, the absolute highest quality pearl available. Six factors determine the quality, value, and beauty of pearls: nacre, luster, surface, shape, color and size.

TYPE OF PEARL

Freshwater, Akoya, or South Sea are three main pearl types used in jewelry. Each type of pearl is produced by a different species of oyster, and each oyster lives in a different region of the world under very specific climatic conditions.

PEARL NACRE

Nacre is the natural substance that the mollusk secretes to protect its sensitive flesh from irritants such as shell fragments or implanted beads. This is the same beautiful iridescent material that lines the inner surface of the oyster shells, aptly named mother-of-pearl. As a rule, the thicker the nacre, the higher quality the pearl is.

PEARL LUSTER

Luster is a combination of surface brilliance and a deep glow. The luster of good quality pearls should be bright. You should be able to see your reflection clearly on the surface of a pearl. Any pearl that appears too white, dull or chalky is of low quality.

PEARL SURFACE

The cleaner the surface of the pearl, the more valuable it is. Look for an absence of disfiguring spots, bumps or cracks on the surface of a pearl, also known as "cleanliness." Notice that the highest quality pearls have a sharp, mirror-like reflection.

PEARL SHAPE

A perfectly round pearl is very rare. The rounder the pearl, the more valuable it is. Baroque pearls are not symmetrical in shape, and can be lustrous and appealing, but cost less than round pearls.

PEARL COLOR

Pearls come in a variety of colors, from white to black and every shade in between. It is important to distinguish between color and overtone. There are a number of common overtones, or subtle variations in the surface iridescence. Choosing your preferred overtone is a matter of taste, although white overtones tend to look best on fair skin, while cream and gold-toned pearls are most flattering to those with darker complexions.

PEARL SIZE

Pearls are measured by their diameter in millimeters. Tiny seed pearls can be smaller than 1 mm, while South Sea pearls as large as 20 mm have been found. If all other quality factors are equal, the size of a pearl will determine its value. Only a 1 millimeter increase in pearl size is a substantial jump in both appearance and value.

6.5 to 7.0 millimeters

This is the size most commonly found in jewelry stores. A perfect choice for a young lady's first strand of pearls, this pearl size is often given as a sweet sixteen or graduation gift.

7.0 to 7.5 millimeters

Pearls of this size are classic and elegant, A necklace of these pearls makes a perfect gift to celebrate a special occasion--ideal for a birthday or college graduation gift.

8.0 to 8.5 millimeters

Pearls in this size are considered a larger, more luxurious pearl size. Pearls that are 8.0mm in size or greater are relatively rare and consequently more valuable. This size is ideal for special occasions of any sort and for sophisticated ladies with elegant taste.

10.0 millimeters and above

10.0mm or larger are typically composed of black Tahitian pearls, white South Sea pearls. Most necklaces in this size range tend to be graduated strands. Ideal for ladies who want the ultimate pearl necklace.