How to Buy Pearls?

  Buying pearls can be a daunting and difficult task for the uninitiated but with a little bit of research, you'll be able to choose the best pearls based on the quality, style, and color to make the task more interesting and enjoyable. The goal of this page is to be a simple primer for those new to shopping for pearl jewelry.

 

 

 Topearl Freshwater Pearls
 GRADE  A  AA  AAA  AAAA
 Low Quality Freshwater representing the bottom 60% of pearl harvest.  Medium-Grade Freshwater representing top 20% of Harvest. Commonly found at jewelry stores and major department stores.  High-Grade Freshwater representing the top 10% of a pearl harvest. Found in Fine Jewelry Stores.  High-Grade Freshwater representing the top 10% of a pearl harvest. Found in Fine Jewelry Stores.

 SURFACE

  Heavy Blemishing with only 50% or less clean surface.  Minor to medium blemishing with a 70-80% clean surface.  Minor Blemishing with at least 90% of the pearl surface clean.  Very Minor to no blemishing with at least 95% of the pearl surface clean.
 LUSTER  Poor  Medium  High  Very High
 SHAPE  Off Round  Off Round  Near Round to Round  Round
 COLOR  White or cream, possibly black once treated.

 

 

 Topearl Akoya Pearls
 GRADE  A  AA  AAA  AAAA
Low Quality Akoya representing the bottom 50% of pearl harvest. Medium-Grade Akoya representing top 60% of Harvest. Commonly found at jewelry stores and major department stores. High-Grade Akoya representing the top 5-10% of a pearl harvest. Found in Fine Jewelry Stores. High-Grade Akoya representing the top 5-10% of a pearl harvest. Found in Fine Jewelry Stores.

 SURFACE

 Heavy Blemishing with only 50% or less clean surface Minor to medium blemishing with a 70-80% clean surface.  Minor Blemishing with at least 90% of the pearl surface clean.  Very Minor to no blemishing with at least 95% of the pearl surface clean.
 LUSTER  Poor  Medium  High  Very High
 SHAPE  Round/Off Round  Round Perfectly Round Perfectly Round
 COLOR  White or cream, possibly black once treated.

 

 

 Topearl Tahitian Pearls
 GRADE  A  AA  AAA  AAAA
Low-Grade Tahitian pearls representing the bottom 40% of pearl harvest. Medium-Grade Tahitian pearls representing the top 60% of Harvest. Commonly found at jewelry stores and major department stores. High-Grade Tahitian pearls representing the top 5-10% of a pearl harvest. Found in Fine Jewelry Stores. High-Grade Tahitian pearls representing the top 2% of a pearl harvest.

 SURFACE

 Pearls having flaws on at least 60% of the pearl surface, with 20% containing deep imperfections. Flawless pearl on 40% if its surface, with the remaining 50% having minor imperfections and 10% containing deep flaws. Flawless pearl on at least 80-85% of its surface, with the remaining 15-20% containing only minor imperfections with one or two deep imperfections. Flawless pearl on at least 95% of the pearl surface, with 5% having slight concentrated imperfections.
 LUSTER  Poor  Medium  High  Very High
 SHAPE  Round Round  Round  Round
 COLOR They appear in shades of brown, gray, blue, green and purple.

 

 

 Topearl South Sea Pearls
 GRADE  A  AA  AAA  AAAA
Low-Grade South Sea pearls representing the bottom 40% of pearl harvest. Medium-Grade South Sea pearls representing the top 60% of Harvest. Commonly found at jewelry stores and major department stores. High-Grade South Sea pearls representing the top 5-10% of a pearl harvest. Found in Fine Jewelry Stores. High-Grade South Sea pearls representing the top 2% of a pearl harvest.

 SURFACE

 Pearls having flaws on at least 60% of the pearl surface, with 20% containing deep imperfections. Flawless pearl on 40% if its surface, with the remaining 50% having minor imperfections and 10% containing deep flaws. Flawless pearl on at least 80-85% of its surface, with the remaining 15-20% containing only minor imperfections with one or two deep imperfections. Flawless pearl on at least 95% of the pearl surface, with 5% having slight concentrated imperfections.
 LUSTER  Poor  Medium  High  Very High
 SHAPE Round  Round  Round  Round
 COLOR Neutral Gold (Yellow), Silver, Rose, Green/Bronze and Champagne hues.