Lustre | Surface | Shape
| Colour | Size
When purchasing pearls, there are five qualities to be considered.
This is some basic information to help you decide whether
the pearls you are considering are of the right quality and
standard for your budget.
1. Lustre
The quality of a pearl's lustre is related to
the thickness of the layers of nacre that make up the pearl's
surface. Hold a pearl with high lustre to the light and you
will see a defined reflection of the light source on the pearl.
Do the same with a low lustre pearl and you will see that
it has, by comparison, a milky appearance with a dull reflection
of the light source.
The thickness of the pearl's nacre layer also
influences the durability of the pearl. A thick layer will
last much longer than a thin layer. Expect this to be reflected
in the price of the pearl. A pearl with a thin layer of nacre
may last only a few years before showing signs of wear. It
is always advisable to buy the best quality you can afford.
2. Surface
A common misconception about the surface of
pearls is that they are perfectly smooth. Most pearls exhibit
some blemishes, but these are often only visible on close
inspection.
If the lustre of the pearl is good, it will
overcome any slight blemishes the pearl may have.
3. Shape
Shapes range from round, semi-round, teardrop,
through to baroque. Some imaginative designers incorporate
strangely-shaped but beautiful pearls into imaginative pieces
of wearable art.
4. Colour
Colours range from silver/white, through rose,
cream, gold, blue/gray, near black, and many variations in
between.
These colours may be natural, or enhanced through
applied chemical processes. The reputable pearl dealer will
be able to give you more information about the particular
pearls you are considering.
5. Size
The size of pearls can range from 3 mm or even
smaller, to 20 mm. It is possible to see South Sea pearls
over 20 mm.
Size will obviously affect price, however, a
small pearl with high lustre is likely to be more valuable
than a large pearl with low lustre.
Further References
For more information or to correct any errors
in the above information, please Contact
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