If you have been planning for a long time to get yourself a piece of pearl necklace, you might consider a few factors. Firstly, the grading of a pearl. You must also look at the criteria for a high-quality pearl. There is no universal standardized grading system for pearls.

Among all the companies and pearl suppliers, the standard pearl grading system does not exist as each company has its own unique and standardized policies. Hence, it is advisable and recommended to purchase from a trustworthy and authorize retailer. That is also to ensure the authenticity of a pearl.

Yukimoto had gone through many years of researches. Here is a simple guide on pearl grading. Overall, the factors to consider when buying pearls are size, surface, lustre, color, and lastly, shape.

SIZE
Size of a pearl varies depending on the types of pearls. For instance, Akoya pearl is well-known for its petite size which range from 3mm to 10mm. The greater the size, the higher the price if the quality factors are equivalent.

SURFACE
The surface of a pearl is one of the most significant factor. Natural imperfections are very common for a pearl. The presence of flaws and impurities such as scratches could affect the appearance and durability of a pearl. That leads to a decrease in value indirectly. In other words, the neater the surface of the pearl, the higher the value.

LUSTRE
Out of these quality factors, lustre is also very most important to determine the value of a pearl. When we discuss about lustre in pearls, is often about the thickness of the nacre. As we all know, layer upon layer of nacre is secreted to fully coat the seeds of the pearl. According to the theory of reflections, lights that falls on the surface of the pearl will be reflected on the another end. That is the reason why pearls have glittering and shinny appearance. With more layers of nacre, the hardness will increase. That will also allow the pearl to look more luster. In another way, if the surface of pearls appeared dull, it shows that the nacre layer is thin. A highly lustred pearl is more valuable.

COLOR
Natural pearls have a wide range of colors. The color varies due to the different environment that pearls are grown in as well as the different types of species of the mother oyster. For instance, the golden pearl is usually formed in a golden-lipped mother oyster. The trace elements as well as copper that it absorbed during formation enables it to obtain the shiny golden color. Hence, pearls exist in a variety of colors such as rose, silver/white, cream, gold, blue/gray and etc.

SHAPE
Pearls are available in different shapes ranging from perfectly round to baroque. Among these shapes, round shape is the rarest and higher value. Drop and baroque shapes are highly appreciated by designers and pearl enthusiasts due to its uniqueness.