Guidance on buying pearls
When it comes to pearls everyone knows they are a sign of romantic beauty and sophistication suitable for any occasion or celebration. Pearls are the one item of jewellery that can be worn with formal evening wear, formal business attire or even with casual wear. Pearls are the official birthstone for the month of June and are an ideal choice for brides on their wedding day, young ladies who are looking for a touch of elegance or as an anniversary present.
In times gone by pearls used to be rare and very expensive. However, modern cultured pearls have now become an affordable luxury.
When it comes to choosing pearls you should consider the following factors as these all contribute to the value of the pearl:
* Lustre
* Nacre Thickness
* Shape
* Surface texture
* Size
* Colour
Lustre
This is the essence of Pearl beauty. Pearls are a thing of beauty and they gain this unique beauty via the play of light reflecting through layers of fine crystalline nacre gradually deposited by an oyster. Nearly transparent nacre gives the deepest lustre and the highest reflection. A high-quality pearl will have a brilliant even reflection with a fine warm glow or radiance. Lower quality pearls have a dull sheen. Pearls with higher quality lustre are usually Akoya pearls compared with South Sea or Tahitian pearls which have a softer reflection.
Colour and overtones
Pearls dominant colour comes from the main reflection from the pearl surface. The deeper reflected light draws the inner colour from the pearl, called the overtone.
Light coloured pearls are available in shades of white, cream, and golden. White with pink or silver overtones are generally the most valuable. The most desirable dark coloured pearls are black with green or blue overtones. Colour matching is also important when buying pearl jewellery. Perfectly matched pearls in colour and size are more valuable than poorly matched pearls.
Shape and surface texture
The highest quality pearls are perfectly round with a smooth surface, very few surface imperfections, and even colouration. Lower quality pearls may be nearly round, or show more surface imperfections, such as wrinkles or large pits on the surface.
Pearl size and necklace length
The pearls in a strand are measured in a range, for example 7-7.5mm. They are strung with the largest pearls at the centre of the pearl necklace and then they gradually become smaller towards the clasp. Larger pearls are more valuable and they create a more dramatic look. High-quality pearls larger than 9 mm are scarce and very expensive.
Where should I buy pearls?
You can buy cultured pearl jewellery from retail stores, online shops or online auctions. When shop for pearls, it is recommended to buy pearls from these places: stores that grade pearls carefully; stores that provide certificate and offer money back guarantees.
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