A Brief History of Pearls: South Sea Pearl Quality Evaluation

  A brief history of pearls

SOUTH SEA PEARL QUALITY EVALUATION


South Sea pearls are among the rarest of all cultured pearls. They're typically much larger than other cultured pearls, and they develop a beautiful, silky luster. However, because these pearls have a long cultivation period that lasts between 2 and 3 years, they're more likely to become flawed as they develop. Large, round and on flawed pearls are extremely rare.

That, coupled with the fact that the Pinctada maxima oyster that produces these pearls is a wild species, makes South Sea pearls some of the most valuable on the market.

Evaluating Quality in South Sea Pearls

As with other types of pearls, South Sea pearls are evaluated for quality based on several factors, including:


Typically, large pearls with high luster and a round shape are more valuable than South Sea pearls that feature irregularities, blemishes and other imperfections. It's important to remember that these pearls take quite some time to cultivate, which increases their value and makes them rarer than other types of pearls.

How pearls form in oysters
How pearls are harvested
How pearls brought to market
 
Know your Akoya pearls
Akoya Pearl Cultivation
Akoya Pearl Harvesting
Akoya Pearl Processing
Akoya Pearl Evaluation
 
Quality Factor One: Luster
Luster of Akoya Pearls
Quality Factor Two: Surface
Surface of Akoya Pearls
Quality Factor Three: Shape
Shape of Akoya Pearls
Quality Factor Four: Color
Color of Akoya Pearls
Quality Factor Five: Size
Size of Akoya Pearls
 
Know your South Sea pearls
South Sea Pearl Cultivation
South Sea Pearl Harvesting
South Sea Pearl Processing
South Sea Pearl Quality Evaluation
Luster of South Sea Pearls
Surface of South Sea Pearls
Shape of South Sea Pearls
Color of South Sea Pearls
Size of South Sea Pearls
 
Know your Tahitian pearls
Tahitian Pearl Cultivation
Tahitian Pearl Harvesting
Tahitian Pearl Processing
Tahitian Pearl Quality Evaluation
Luster of Tahitian Pearls
Surface of Tahitian Pearls
Shape of Tahitian Pearls
Color of Tahitian Pearls
Size of Tahitian Pearls
 
Gift Giving Occasions


  Previous   Next