South Sea Pearl Grading

South Sea cultured pearls are exceptional quality pearls. They are white, with a whitish, almost silver color to ivory and yellow.

Much larger than the average pearl, the smoothness and roundness of these pearls are exceptional. These are the rarest and extraordinary pearls you'll find in jewelry.

South Sea pearls come from the white-lipped variety of the pinctada maxima oyster. This oyster is much larger than the oysters that produce Akoya and Freshwater pearls, so the pearl that it produces is much larger as well. Because of the rarity and sensitivity of this type of oyster, cultivation of these pearls is much more difficult, making them more expensive.

Pearl is one of the Birthstones for the month of June.

 Note: Even the highest quality organically cultivated pearls show signs of nature and are never 100% free of minor blemishes.

Tahitian South Sea Pearls

Tahitian cultured pearls are cultivated from the black-lipped variety of the pinctada maxima oyster which reaches a foot or more in diameter, and produces very large pearls. This oyster is very sensitive to the pearl culturing process, which makes the pearls very costly to produce.

A gift of Tahitian cultured pearls makes an extraordinary, unique gift.

Tahitian pearls offer a dramatic touch.

The natural black color of these pearls comes from the color of the oyster's black lips.

These pearls are traditionally called "black," but their color can range from metallic silver, to the color of pencil lead. And within this range of colors they can have bluish, purplish, or greenish overtones.

Akoya Pearls

If you're looking for classic pearls, look to Akoya pearls. The Akoya is the most popular pearl, commonly seen in pearl strands.

Akoya pearls are the specialty of Japanese pearl farms. The first pearls to be cultured early in the 1920s, their white color and rosé overtone complement a fair complexion. Akoya pearls have only minor blemishes and a deep, beautiful luster.

You may notice that the Akoya looks very similar to the Freshwater pearl. When compared side-by-side, the difference is clear. Besides being more expensive, Akoya pearls are on average larger, smoother, rounder, and more lustrous than Freshwater pearls. If you're looking for a remarkable gift, choose a gift of Akoya cultured pearl jewelry.

Freshwater Pearl Grading

In every 10,000 mussels, you might be lucky enough to find a single natural pearl. Because of this scarcity, most pearls today are cultured pearls.

Most Freshwater pearls come from Japan and China, and are the product of an elaborate process in which a single resilient mussel can be harvested many times, yielding several pearls at a time.

When a cultured pearl develops it is naturally coated in layers of a beautiful, pearlescent substance called nacre which builds up to create a lustrous pearl.

As natural pearls also cultured pearls may have blemishes (blister or spot) on the surface.

The rainbow effect that seems to encircle a pearl's surface is also called Orient.

Many Freshwater pearls look remarkably similar to Seawater pearl, but Freshwater pearls are available for almost 1/5 the price of Seawater pearls. The only tradeoff is that Freshwater pearls are generally smaller, less symmetrical, and not as well matched when strung on a strand. But if you're looking for pearls at an outstanding value, Freshwater pearls are perfect.

Note: Even the highest quality organically cultivated pearls show signs of nature and are never 100% free of minor blemishes.

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