Pearl Quality Compared

Pearls are a beautiful exquisite treasure. One of the most popular forms of jewelry or gemstone on the planet. Beloved since the beginning of time, this treasure of the sea has been used to show a person's power, wealth, and refinement, and being adorned on only the most wealthy members of nations. Find out below the value of different pearl grades, learn to descern shapes, and be knowledgible about the most important factors of a pearls value.

First, we would like to show you a comparison of what good quality pearls look like (like the ones we use here at Tiny Blessings), and poor quality or craft quality pearls used by other companies for their children's jewelry.

Grading Factors

Aside from the size of a pearl, there are five main factors in defining the quality of a given pearl, they are; luster, surface, shape, nacre, and color. Each has its importance in creating the perfect pearl. Since not all pearls can be perfect pearls, they have to be graded using jewelry industry standards and by a trained jewelry professional who has seen tens of thousands of pearls, and so has the experience and expertise to easily rate pearls on this criteria.

Luster

Luster is most similar to the word "shine" and is an indicator of how well the pearl reflects light and shadow. A good way to think of luster is like a mirror, the foggier the mirror, the less sharp it reflects. This quality is one of the highest and most important indicators of good pearls.

  This is the only grade used by Tiny Blessings

Surface

This indicates how smooth and unflawed the surface of the pearl is graded to be. Small natural imperfections like scratches, bumps, marring, and crater like divots cause a pearl to have a lower surface quality. Highest quality pearls are rated to have 95% or higher surface area perfection.

  This is the only grade used by Tiny Blessings

Shape

Since pearls grow naturally, the can grow in many shapes and have to be categorized into groups. The best know pearl shape groups are the following; Perfect Round, Round, Off-Round, Potato, Baroque, Button, and Drop shaped pearls. The "Perfect Round" category is the ideal pearl with less round pearls being less desirable based on how far from perfect round they tend to be. Although, pearl shapes that have character and unique look, like baroque, are more desirable them some "Off-Round" or "Round" categorized pearls. This may be the biggest factor, next to size, in determining the value of pearls.

  These are the only grades used by Tiny Blessings
*  This grade is available for an additional charge if desired

Nacre

Nacre and luster are closely tied in the rating value of a pearl. The thicker the nacre the more shiny or lustrous the pearl appears. Thicker nacre makes for a more robust pearl and creates an illusion of depth. Since it is linked with luster, one of the most desirable qualities, nacre is a valuable quality in a pearl. (See table above showing pearl images in luster grades)

Color

Some colors are simply more preferred, like white and pink are two colors that are more popular than gold or ivory. These color preferences may change with trends, and thus the price differences between colors may alternate, but white is, and always will be the most popular color choice.

  These are the only colors used by Tiny Blessings.
Note: We accept both white and white with pink undertone from our pearl farms, both are equally as valuable and beautiful. We do not mix white and white with pink undertone pearls, you either get one or the other.

Other Grading Factors

• Some professionals also look at pearl weight. The value of weight equaling the heavier the pearl, for its size, the more valuable.
• Some jewelers use a 4A (AAAA to A) grading system or a 5A (AAAAA to A) grading system. Do NOT be fooled by this marketing trick, they are just marketing AAA grade pearls as AAAA or AAAAA grade to mislead people into thinking they have better quality pearls than everyone else. You should beware of purchasing pearls from these jewelers, if they are interested in misleading you on the quality, it is no stretch of the imagination to think that they would mislead you on the other aspects of their jewelry.

Freshwater Pearl Grading Chart

(unique shapes not evaluated)

Grades used by Tiny Blessings are indicated by a blue background

Cultured Pearls vs. Naturally Occuring Pearls

Cultured pearls are real pearls are both created by real oysters, in fresh or salt water, that are farmed for commercial production of high-quality pearls. Much like farmed salmon or trout, these are exactly the same fish, just raised in an area they can be harvested with little trouble. Naturally occuring pearls are extremely rare and since pearl oysters are no longer commercially fished to find pearls, these beautiful accidents of nature are rarely found in any type of jewelry, but when they are, they are sold at a huge premium. Talk about a premium, in 2007 a rare strand of 68 perfect natural pearls, known as the 'Boroda Pearls', was auctioned for over $7 million to an undisclosed buyer. Yes, that is over $100,000 per pearl.

Facts about Cultured Pearls

1. Over 99.99% of all real pearls used in the jewelry industry today are cultured pearls
2. Of all the pearls collected in commercial pearl culture farm, only 60 % of the pearls have any value at all, the remaining 40 % are worthless and are generally trash.¹
3. Vinegar is acidic and can cause natural and cultured pearls to dissolve if left in vinegar.²