Pearls are beautiful in their simplicity, and looks great with any outfit. But, buying a pearl is not always simple. By following five basic steps, you can avoid paying too much for the jewelry or lose a perfect pearl.
Colour of pearls and jewelry this way can be the first thing to consider, but rather determining the value of personal preference.
Important steps should be taken when buying pearls to look as follows:
a) Size
b) shape (round, teardrop-baroque, or other)
c) surface (smoothness and brightness)
d) type (natural, cultured saltwater, freshwater or faux)
e) Grade (A, AA, etc.)
Size
Like many (but not all types), jewelry, pearl size is closely linked to its value. Large pearl is more difficult to make, and great natural (found) pearls are very rare. For this reason, two rows of beads which tend to be more affordable, smaller than a strand of large pearls.
Form
In recent years, the only acceptable form is a perfectly round pearl jewelry. A ball is still the most desirable pearl, but there is a huge market for the oval, teardrop, and even disk-shaped pearls. Other types tend to be more accessible but must be symmetrical (round, when viewed from one end), and smooth.
Surface
The smoothness of the surface of a pearl is also very important for its value. Unwanted stains, of course, but a small amount of surface roughness can be expected in natural or cultured pearls. A pearl is really smooth, for example, would tend to fake.
Brightness, or "brightness" of the surface, is also important. Looking for a bright and strong surface reflection of light. If the pearl has a matte surface, clouds, would be more valuable than that of light. Placement on pearl light directly on a flat white is a good way to check the brightness.
Type
There are several basic types of pearls:
I) Natural pearls are those that are only found in molluscs, like oysters. This is very rare and, if they are of high quality, very expensive.
II) Pearl cultivation is not fake, but comes from molluscs, which have been "farming." In this process, a pearl is made to grow into a mollusk by inserting a small irritant like grains of sand. It can be produced in large size and smooth surface by a farmer-quality pearls.
III) Salt-water pearls or cultured pearls are found only in the sea. Trade name of culture is a saltwater Akoya pearls, South Sea or Tahitian Black.
Fresh water pearl 路, for the same reason, are or have been growing in lakes, rivers and ponds. Most are from China. Freshwater pearls are generally scratches for a little softer and more easily than saltwater pearls, and a little less valuable.
IV) Imitation pearls are usually made of glass or plastic. They have a very small value and is usually used in jewelry.
Grade
Although there is no classification standard for the gemstone industry, there are two systems that received by most distributors of jewelry. The triple A-rating system in itself perfect pearls and shining, with "A" lowest and the three "A" s highest. This system is also based on the value of perfect Tahitian and brightness, but using the index of AD, where D is the lowest and A the highest. This system is used primarily for the South Sea and Tahitian pearls.