Other grading factors

The following are other grading factors used to determine the use and value of a South Sea pearl:

Shape

Round
this shape is the most popular and versatile, therefore making it the most valuable and highly sought after.  Round pearls are mainly used in rings, earrings and necklaces.

Drop
this shape is very popular and is used in earrings and pendants.

Baroque (or semi-baroque)
jewellers love this shape as it enables their imaginations to run wild with the freeform shape.  Baroque are used in pendants, earrings and necklaces.

Button
this shape is generally used for rings, stud and drop earrings and necklaces.

Circle (or ringed)
this shape is used for earrings and necklaces.

Keshi
this shape is similar to baroque though the pearl has no nuclei, and is therefore 100% nacre.

Size

South Sea pearls are measured in millimetres and, as a general rule, start from around 9mm in size and can grow up to 20mm, with some rare exceptions of them growing even larger.  Tahitian pearls start around 8mm and grow up to 18mm, again with some growing even larger.

Pearls are measured by their width, i.e. a drop pearl will be measured from side to side instead of top to bottom.

Colour

South sea pearls range in colour from white to gold with many shades inbetween. The following is an approximate colour guide:

• White
• White/pink
• Silver
• Silver/pink
• Cream
• Yellow
• Gold

Lustre

A good lustred pearl is one that is bright and where the reflections are sharp.  A pearl that has great lustre assumes that the pearl nacre is thick.  Is widely acknowledged the thicker the nacre, the more durable the pearl.  South Sea pearls are generally know to have the thickest nacre of all the pearl families, due to their long culturing period.

Blemishes

The cleaner the pearl, the higher the grade (when it also has good lustre).  Also, cleaner pearls are more valuable as it has more uses.  For example, if a round pearl is ¾ clean, it has more uses, as long as the “face” is clean, e.g. in rings.