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How Freshwater Pearls are Created
Nowadays, almost all pearls sold in stores, whether fresh or seawater, are cultured pearls. To create the pearl, the farmers introduce a foreign object, such as a mother-of-pearl bead, into the mollusk. The mollusk, in order to prevent irritation, deposits layers of nacre around the object, forming the pearl.
Knowing the Quality of Pearls
There are several elements to consider when judging a pearl’s quality.
- Luster – one of the most important factors when judging quality. To recognize finer luster, look at the clarity of images that are reflected in the pearl’s surface. The closer to a mirror image you see, the better the luster.
- Size – the larger the pearl, the more rare it is. The size of a pearl is measured by its diameter, and ranges from 5mm to a very rare 18mm.
- Shape – the rounder a pearl is, the more valuable it is. However, roundness as an element of quality is not a factor with the many nontraditional pearl shapes now available.
- Surface – the fewer defects found on the surface of the pearl, the higher it will be valued. Truly flawless pearls are extremely rare.
- Color – unlike the other factors, color has little influence on the actual value of a pearl. Color is a matter of personal preference.
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