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From the Cultured Pearl Information Center
When selecting a strand of cultured pearls, it's best to buy
them for a knowledgeable jeweler. Your local jeweler can explain
how to make the most of your purchase and insure that you
are getting the best quality pearls within your price range.
You can evaluate any piece of cultured pearl jewelry on the
following quality factors. But always remember that the better
the quality of pearls you select, the more beautiful and valued
they will be over time.
1. LUSTRE: Lustre
is a combination of surface brilliance and a deep seated glow.
The lustre of a good quality pearl should be bright and not
dull. You should be able to see your own reflection clearly
on the surface of a pearl. Any pearl that appears too white,
dull or chalky indicates low quality.
2. SURFACE: Cleanliness refers to the absence of disfiguring
spots, bumps or cracks on the surface of a pearl. The cleaner
the surface of the pearl, the more valuable.
3. SHAPE: Since cultured pearls are grown by oysters
in nature, it is very rare to find a perfectly round pearl,
the more valuable it is. Baroque pearls, which are asymmetrical
in shape, can be lustrous and appealing, and often cost less
than round pearls.
4. COLOR: Cultured pearls come in a variety of colors
from rose to black. While the color of a pearl is really a
matter of the wearer's preference, usually rose or silver/white
pearls tend to look best on fair skins will cream and gold
colored pearls are flattering to darker complexions.
5. SIZE: Cultured pearls are measured by their diameter
in millimeters. They can be smaller than one millimeter in
the case of tiny seed pearls, or as large as twenty millimeters
for a big South Sea pearl. The larger the pearl, other factors
being equal, the more valuable it will be. The average sized
pearl sold today is between 7 and 7.5 millimeters.
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