Shopping for Pearls

     There are some essential qualities that you should look for when shopping for pearls. These are:

Lustre: Of all of the factors to consider, lustre is perhaps that most important. Fine lustre produces an almost mirror-like reflection on the surface of the pearls, when looked at in normal light. Avoid cultured pearls that look dull and chalky.

Surface: The surface of a cultured pearl should be relatively free of blemishes, pockmarks or pits. Since cultured pearls are grown inside an oyster, it's very rare to find any completely blemish free pearl. But the fewer the imperfections, the greater the value. If these imperfections are near the drill hole through the pearl then they will be less noticeable.

Colour: Colour in pearls is a preference often based upon geographical location or skin tones. For example, white pearls or pearls with a bit of a pink overtone are most popular in the U.S. However, golden toned pearls are also popular for darker skinned.

Size: Size is another factor that is left to personal preferences. Some people like smaller, more delicate sized pearls (3mm - 5mm), while others like larger pearls (6mm and up). Size does affect price, usually the larger the pearl the more valuable it is. But lustre must also be considered - smaller more lustrous pearls can cost the same as larger less lustrous ones.

Shape: For many people - roundness in a pearl equals perfection. However, there exist more imperfect styles, such as Baroque pearls, which flash with something called "orient" - an iridescent colour that moves across the pearls surface.

Prices:
     Jewelry that uses a few pearls in its design can be relatively cheap (a few hundred dollars depending in the setting and designs). However, if you are interested in a strand of pearls, you should expect to pay closer to $1000 dollars for a high quality piece.

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