Before Purchasing Pearl Jewelry
Here are ten things to consider before purchasing your pearl jewelry
| 1) |
Decide on whether you want cultured or faux (imitation) pearls. There are natural pearls available but they are rare and may not be affordable. Faux or imitation pearls are considered as costume jewelry and are inexpensive. They may have the initial shine and lustrous look but they tend to chip and fade after a few wears. Cultured pearls are carefully cultivated to get the pearl started then leaving it up to nature to create the rest. Most cultured pearls are affordable but they do range in price. |
| 2) |
Decide on a necklace, bracelet, earrings, pendant or ring. The more pearls you have in one piece of jewelry, like a necklace, the costlier it will be. |
| 3) |
Decide on the types of pearls you want to buy - saltwater Akoya, Black Tahitian, South Sea, Hanadama or Freshwater. The rarer the pearl, like the Hanadama, the more valuable and costlier it will be. |
| 4) |
Decide on the grading of the pearl - one of the more commonly accepted grading system is the AAA-A system and considered to be the standard used by nearly all reputable pearl dealers. This system is used by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to appraise each pearl. However, even with this system, sellers could mislead customers by uses the grading system to describe a different quality pearl than that which the system is generally understood to be describing. It is important to obtain the meaning of any descriptive terms used by the seller and ask to see a description of each grading item. Reputable jewelers will be happy to comply with such a request. |
| 5) |
Decide on the size of the pearl. The larger the pearl, the more it adds to its value. Pearl size is measured in millimetre (mm) in diameter. A popular size is between 7.0 to 7.5 mm. Pearl size is the most important factor in the determining the price of the pearl. |
| 6) |
Choose a pearl shape. It varies due to their nature of being a natural organic substance. Some are round, near round, oval, baroque, drop or button. The most sought after pearls are round or near round. The closer to a spherical round, the costlier it would be. |
| 7) |
Inspect the lustre or iridescence of the pearl. Genuine pearls would give you a shimmering, iridescent rainbow like reflection, very crisp and shiny - these are the characteristics of high quality pearls . This phenonmeon is caused by the way in which light is reflected through the various layers of nacre which makes up the pearl. Avoid pearls that resemble dull, cloudy, chalky white beads. Place pearls directly under a light, on a flat, white surface to inspect them. |
| 8) |
Surface area is an important determination to the desirability and value of a pearl. Inclusions such as minor bumps, scratches, cracks or abrasions hinder the lustre of the pearl and thus the value of the pearl. Keep in mind that pearls are a natural phenomenon and hence no pearl is completely blemish-free; minute flaws do exist on any pearl but often unnoticeable. |
| 9) |
Examine the pearl colour, which can be white, silver, cream, gold, grey, blue or even black. There may be an overtone just on the surface of the pearl. Overtones add depth and glow to pearls. For example, a white pearl could have a pink overtone. Pearls absorb surrounding colors because they are reflective and the overtones of the pearls are very subtle. So buy what you like! |
| 10) |
Look at the pearl jewelry as a whole. Examine it from different angles. Roll a strand of pearls on a flat surface to test for roundness. It should roll smoothly and evenly.
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