If you want to buy pearls, you will find yourself evaluating different qualities, colors and sizes. In addition to price, there are many other aspects to consider, so don't rush to make your purchase, but first learn to compare pearls based on type, size, color and surface quality.
Steps
Step 1. Size
It can vary based on several factors: the size of the plant used in the grafting process, the cultivation time and the type of oyster that produced the pearl. Pearls are measured in millimeters perpendicular to the hole. Generally, the largest pearls are also the most expensive. The classic format is 7 millimeters.
Step 2. Color
The classic creamy white tending to pink should highlight lighter complexions. Black or gray pearls look wonderful on any skin type, while silver pearls are perfect for dark complexions.
Step 3. Surface quality
Make sure the pearl has no obvious bumps, scratches or color variations.
Step 4. Type of pearl
There are mainly four categories: Akoya pearls (grown in Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Australia and China), freshwater pearls (grown in China), Tahitian pearls (grown in French Polynesia, the Cook Islands and Fiji) and South Sea pearls (grown in Australia, Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia).
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Akoya are the classic round pearls, basically white with ivory, pink and silver shades. They are also grown in shades of blue, yellow and are often dyed black. The dimensions range from 2 to 10 mm.
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Freshwater pearls are famous for their shape which is not perfectly rounded, except for the higher quality specimens. They are the most popular in the world and, although available in all pastel colors, they are generally white, lilac or peach-colored. The dimensions range from 2 mm up to 20 mm.
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Tahitian pearls are large and basically dark, with shades ranging from green to black and from cherry red to golden. The dimensions range from 7 mm up to 18 mm.
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South Sea pearls are produced from the largest pearl oyster in the world, the pinctada maxima. They have a color ranging from white to silver, to pink, gold and champagne.
Buy Pearls Intro
Advice
- Freshwater pearls grow within hyriopsis cummingi for a period of time ranging from 2 to 4 years.
- For an artist look, choose baroque pearls which are of different and irregular shapes.
- To the inexperienced eye, freshwater pearls will look exactly identical to akoya pearls.
- Until a few years ago, freshwater pearls were very similar to deformed rice grains and were very inexpensive. Today, there are examples of excellent quality that are perfectly rounded.
- Perfectly rounded freshwater pearls are quite difficult to grow and represent 1% of the production of a pearl farm.
- Freshwater pearls are not as shiny as akoya, however they are much more resistant and cost 1/10 compared to classic round pearls (let's say that if the price of akoya is around € 360 euros, freshwater pearls cost around € 36).
- Akoya pearls grow inside the pinctada fucata for a period of time ranging from 9 months to 2 years.
Warnings
- Dyed pearls should be relatively inexpensive compared to natural colored ones. Request a certificate of authenticity or buy pearls from a well-known and trusted brand.
- Before making a decision, ask the shopkeeper to show you different types of pearls to get a clearer idea of the product and to establish a compromise between quality and price.
