| There are many types of pearls depending upon | | | | pearl farming. |
| oysters family type and are named as follows: | | | | Since pearls come in all different sizes, shapes and |
| Freshwater pearls, Akoya Seawater pearls, | | | | colors, they are graded from A to AAA |
| Tahitian Pearls and South Sea Pearls. | | | | depending upon quality. Luster is the king as no |
| All these types are cultured pearls and natural | | | | one would like to buy dull looking pearls no matter |
| pearls are rarity. Freshwater pearls that are | | | | how cheap they are. Often many jewelers sell |
| harvested in freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers | | | | them as AAAA and that’s just the hype |
| are the cheapest of all and abundantly available. | | | | perhaps to get more money. |
| They are very much affordable. Next comes the | | | | There are SIX factors that determine the value |
| Akoya Seawater pearls and the name akoya | | | | of pearls or pearl jewelry: |
| means saltwater in Japanese language. The | | | | Pearl luster: Combination of surface brilliance and |
| culturing technique was originally developed by | | | | inner glow. A very good luster means higher pearl |
| famous Japanese man name Mikimoto in early | | | | value. |
| part of 19th Century. But now China has taken | | | | Pearl Luster, Pearl Surface, Pearl Size, Pearl |
| over the pearl farming of both akoya and | | | | Colorand Pearl Shape. |
| freshwater pearls to a much larger scale. | | | | Pearl Nacre: The iridescent internal layer of a |
| Most of us perhaps have no real idea as to how | | | | mollusk shell. It is a natural substance oyster |
| pearls are graded and valued when it comes to | | | | secretes to protect its sensitive flesh. The thin |
| quality and pricing. Unlike diamonds that are | | | | nacre is very prone to peeling and chipping |
| evaluated based on four C’s: Cut, Carat, Color | | | | whereas thicker layer commands more value |
| and Clarity, pearls being natural gems are grown | | | | because of its greater luster depth. |
| naturally in oyster’s womb. They grow in | | | | Pearl Surface: If outer surface is very clean and |
| many shapes and sizes and we human have little | | | | have very few blemishes such pearls carry more |
| or no control. More so, the water quality and | | | | value. Higher quality of pearls have mirror like |
| climatic conditions often play a major role during | | | | finish and without any blemishes on the surface. |