standards to grade each and every cultured pearl
we use in your custom BeadifulBABY jewelry. The seven value factors are:
All cultured pearl types (i.e. freshwater, akoya, South Sea, and Tahitian) come in a variety of sizes.
A cultured pearl's size can depend on several factors: the mollusk variety, the length of time
the mollusk spent creating the pearl, and the size of the implanted nucleus.
Cultured pearls are measured and sold by their size in millimeters (mm)
Round (spherical) cultured pearls
while natural pearls are sold by their carat weight.
Cultered pearls larger than 10mm are typically
South Sea or Tahitian cultured pearls - however, with recent advancements in the freshwater cultured pearl industry
freshwater cultured pearls are getting larger and rounder.
These advances make freshwater cultured pearls a fierce competitor of other pearl varieties.
A fine cultured pearl's value increases exponentially if the size is larger than average for its pearl type.
For example, the average size of an akoya cultured pearl is between 6mm - 7.5mm. Sizes larger than 7.5mm are not common.
Since an 8mm akoya cultured pearl is not produced as often - meaning it is a rare gem - it is exponentially more expensive and more valuable than a
7.5mm akoya cultured pearl (all other value factors being equal.) Supply is a large factor in setting a value for and in pricing a fine gem.
Demand increases as the rarity of a fine gem increases.
2. Shape
The
round pearl shape is the
most-preferred
and the
most-valuable pearl shape.
Less than 2% of
freshwater cultured pearls produced are round,
while
over 70% of
akoya cultured pearls produced are round.
The shape of the cultured pearl formed by the mussel depends on two factors: the shape of the irritant,
and/or the physical movement of the mussel. If the mussel moves around a lot during the pearl growth
process an irregular-shaped pearl can form.
The GIA teaches
a pearl is round if the pearl appears round to the eye. There are no mathematical calculations to be determined and no complicated measuring techniques required
- bottom-line if the pearl appears round to the eye - it's considered round. The
near-round pearl shape appears almost round to the eye. Both the
round and
near-round shapes are
considered
spherical.
At BeadifulBABY
we use only spherical freshwater and akoya cultured pearls.
We do not sell oval, button, drop, semi-baroque, or baroque pearl shapes -
we sell only fine heirloom freshwater and akoya cultured
pearls scoring high in all seven value factors.
3. Color
Bodycolor, overtone, hue, tone, saturation, and orient are terms used to describe a pearl's color.
Defining or labeling a pearl's color can be difficult at times given the various bodycolors ranging from neutrals, near neutrals, to hues.
The GIA has defined 19 different hues all with different degrees of tone and saturation.
Tone refers to how light or dark a hue is on a grid with multiple points.
Saturation refers to how weak or strong or how intense a hue is.
To describe a pearl's color you first start with defining the pearl's dominant color - also called the bodycolor - say white or mauve for example.
Then you look for the tint or secondary color referred to as the overtone. A common overtone of white pearls is rose' (pronounced ro ZAY.) Some pearls however have no overtone.
Non-white pearls also referred to as fancy-colored pearls (or hues) have many degrees of color which is defined by the tone or saturation of the color.
In summary defining the color of a pearl is a complicated process - and matching pearls of similar bodycolors, overtones, hues,
tones, and saturation can be an even more difficult process. Our
BeadifulBABY jewelry artisans meticulously sort through the Grade AAA cultured pearl
strands we purchase from cultured pearl farms -
searching for cultured pearls of the same bodycolors, overtones, hues,
tones, and saturation. It sometimes takes going through several Grade AAA strands of cultured pearls to create one or more jewelry items with excellent matched cultured pearls.
The GIA defines
excellent matching as pearls having a similar appearance and drilled on center.
All
seven value factors however must be considered in determining a finished jewelry item's
value. A perfect set of cultured pearls will have a price tag which reflects its perfection - often in the unattainable range.
We offer gorgeous cultured pearl heirloom jewelry
that exceeds the cultured pearl jewelry often found in most well-known independent jewelry stores - and with a price tag well below these stores offerings.
We pride ourselves as being a guild store - selling high-end cultured pearl jewelry with customization options you would be hard-pressed to find any where else.
The different colors arise from a variety of factors including genetics, the location
of the deposited irritant, and the water quality. The water chemistry (affected by the elements
present in the water such as copper, silver, zinc) in which the mussel lives determine the color
of the conchiolin and it is the conchiolin present in the nacre that determine the color of
the conchiolin and it is the conchiolin present in the nacre that determines the color of the pearl.
4. Luster
The tiny calcium carbonate crystals that make up nacre determine the luster of a pearl. The shine or
reflective quality of a pearl is defined as its luster. One way of determining the degree of luster
is by the pearl’s mirror-like quality. How well you can see your reflection in a pearl determines the
degree of luster a pearl has. The higher the shine of the pearl, the greater its value. According to
the Gemological Institute of America's (GIA's) pearl grading system, a pearl's luster can be low,
medium, high or very high. The luster and the thickness of the nacre are directly related. The more
nacre a pearl has the higher the luster. So larger pearls tend to have more luster than smaller
pearls because of their greater nacre content.
5. Surface Quality
The surface quality of a pearl is one factor in determining its value. During the nacre laying process
sometimes spots and bubbles will appear because the nacre does not always adhere smoothly. Most pearls
have some surface imperfections or inclusions, such as bumps, scratches, spots, or minor color
variations. The cleaner the surface of the pearl the more valuable the pearl. Given that pearls are
organic even the most valuable pearls might have some small inclusions.
6. Nacre Quality
Freshwater cultured pearls are formed by the secretion of a crystalline substance known as
nacre (pronounced nay-ker) around an irritant in a mussel. The mussel coats the irritant with layer
upon layer of calcium carbonate crystals called nacre in a concentric fashion until a pearl is formed.
Freshwater cultured pearls are generally one hundred percent nacre. The thicker the nacre
the greater the luster, the longer the pearl will last without showing wear, and thus the more
valuable the pearl becomes.
7. Matching
The GIA defines
excellent matching as pearls having a similar appearance and drilled on center.
All
seven value factors must be considered in determining a finished jewelry item's
value. A perfect set of cultured pearls will have a price tag which reflects its perfection - often in the unattainable range.
We offer gorgeous cultured pearl heirloom jewelry
that exceeds the cultured pearl jewelry often found in most well-known independent jewelry stores - and with a price tag well below these stores offerings.
We pride ourselves as being a guild store - selling high-end cultured pearl jewelry with customization options you would be hard-pressed to find any where else.
Our
BeadifulBABY jewelry artisans meticulously sort through the Grade AAA cultured pearl
strands we purchase from cultured pearl farms -
searching for cultured pearls of the same bodycolors, overtones, hues,
tones, and saturation - and with similar value factors. It sometimes takes going through several Grade AAA strands of
cultured pearls to create one or more jewelry items with excellent matched cultured pearls.
We know your gift is important to you so we take the time to create a gift you'd be proud to give to
your friends and loved ones. We welcome you to
compare your BeadifulBABY heirloom cultured pearl jewelry with other retailers -
we know
our cultured pearls will stand high above the rest - and
at a price you'll love.
Our customers say it best. Read
customer testimonials
from customers who loved their
BeadifulBABY® fine pearl jewelry.