What is the best grade of South Sea pearl?

Best (AAA)

These high-grade South Sea pearls represent the top 10% of the harvest. They have thick nacre, which means they are high on luster albeit with slight blemishes. More specifically, 80-85% of their surface is flawless and the remaining 15-20% contains minor imperfections.

What is the best color of South Sea pearl?

The overall value of these pearls is higher than akoya or Tahitian, and very comparable to white South Sea pearls. The deepest golden color, often referred to as 24 karat, is considered the most valuable color of all South Sea pearls.

What is the best grade for pearls?

This grading system ranks pearls from AAA to A, with AAA being the highest.

• AAA: Nearly flawless pearls with a high luster and a surface that's 95 percent free of defects.
• AA: High luster with a surface that's 75 percent free of defects.
• A: Lower luster and defects on more than 25 percent of the surface.

Are South Sea pearls good quality?

South Sea pearls are the most sought after cultivated pearls in the world. They exhibit the highest levels of perfection in all the value factors – size, shape, surface cleanliness, and luster or nacre thickness.

Where are the best South Sea pearls from?

Where do they come from? The majority of white South Sea pearls are cultured along the northwest coast of Australia. Pearls of the golden variety are also produced primarily in the Philippines and Indonesia - two countries that are quickly becoming the leaders in the finest golden South Sea pearl production.

South Sea Pearls Tutorial with GIA Graduate Gemologist Hope Meyer

What is the most expensive South sea pearl?

The color of the Golden South Sea pearl range from a creamy white to deep gold. The deeper the gold, the more expensive this pearl is, as natural (not dyed) gold pearls are rare. For example, a perfect strand of large, deep golden South Sea pearls can go for as much as $100,000.

What is Grade AAA pearl?

AAA Flawless pearl on at least 80-85% of its surface, with the remaining 15-20% containing only minor imperfections with one or two deep imperfections. AAAA Flawless pearl on at least 95% of the pearl surface, with 5% having slight concentrated imperfections. Luster. A Poor. AA Medium.

Why is Southsea pearls expensive?

Because South Sea Pearls form over longer periods of time, they are more costly to cultivate. For this reason, there are a limited number of South Sea pearl farms, making the truly prized South Seas exceptionally rare. Not all cultured pearls are good enough to become Assael pearls.

Which pearl is more expensive?

South Sea pearls are considered the most valuable. They are also the largest pearl variety on the market. A strand of South Sea pearls can range from $1,000 to over $100,000.

Do South Sea pearls have flaws?

Damaging and Non-Damaging Blemishes

It's important to remember that some blemishes won't detract from the beauty or value of a pearl, and this is particularly true with South Sea pearls. That's because it takes these pearls 2 to 3 years to develop, and flawless or slightly flawed South Sea pearls are extremely rare.

How can you tell good quality pearls?

Simply take the pearl, and gently rub it along the surface of your tooth. If the pearls are real, you'll feel a grittiness similar to sandpaper. In other words, there will be a great deal of friction. If the pearls are fake, on the other hand, it will feel smooth as with plastic or glass.

Are there different grades of pearls?

Flawless pearl on at least 80-85% of its surface, with remaining 15-20% containing only minor imperfections with one or two deep imperfections. Flawless pearl on at least 95% of the pearl surface, with 5% concentrated imperfections. High-Grade South Sea representing the top 5-10% of a pearl harvest.

Which is the best pearl in the world?

White and Golden South Sea pearls are the largest and most luxurious of all cultured pearl types on the market today. Often called the “Queen of Pearls”, South Sea pearls feature a gorgeous palette of natural Golden and White colors that shimmer with delicate overtones and are simply unmistakable.

What is the difference between Akoya and South sea pearls?

South Sea Pearls of 9.5 – 10.5 mm sizes are more common. But the smaller Akoya oyster has a hard time producing a pearl as large as 9.5 – 10.5 mm, making these pearls much rarer, hence the higher price. Akoya Pearls are preferred for someone wanting a bright white/pink lustrous strand in this “overlap” size range.

What is the rarest pearl color?

Naturally colored blue pearls are the rarest pearl colors in the world (with one or two exceptions, which we will get to below). The color has existed in pearls for decades, but only recently have naturally colored blue pearls gained popularity in the modern pearl jewelry markets.

What is the price of South Sea pearls?

South sea pearls price per carat ranges from Rs 200 to Rs 5,000 per carat Plus.

What is the cost of 1 pearl?

The value of a pearl can vary dramatically depending on many factors, such as its type, size, color, surface quality, and more. A wild pearl will be worth more than a cultured pearl. However, on average, a pearl's value ranges from $300 to $1500.

How South Sea pearls are made?

Formation of South Sea Pearls

Created by implanting a Mother of Pearl bead in the mollusk's mantle, each cultured pearl derives its unique color from the "lips" of the oyster. So Golden South Sea pearls come from gold lipped oysters, white from white lipped oysters and so on.

Are South Sea and Tahitian pearls the same?

South Sea pearls are naturally delicate pastel in hue and color. They range from being soft white to creamy champagne and pink. Tahitian pearls, on the different side of the spectrum, are bold and dramatic, since the natural color is black.

What is South Sea cultured pearl?

South Sea cultured pearls are exceptional quality pearls with a whitish, almost silver color. Much larger than the average pearl, South Sea cultured pearls are exceptionally smooth and round. These are the most rare and extraordinary pearls you'll find in jewelry.

How do you clean South Sea pearls?

Occasionally clean your pearls gently with a cloth dipped in alcohol diluted with warm water or in mild soapy water. Rinse the cloth in fresh water and wipe pearls clean. Dry with a soft cloth. Strands will require restringing from time to time, depending on how often they are worn.

What is the difference between AA and AAA pearls?

AA – The surface will have good luster and and 75% of the pearl will be free from blemishes and spots. AAA – The surface will have high luster and 95% of the pearl will be free from spots or blemishes.

Are AAA pearls worth it?

For AAA round pearls, surface luster in such a pearl is very high and 95% of surface will be free from any defect. AAAAA is the highest quality of pearl known and is expensive and exclusive, while AAA is the highest quality of non-round shape pearls.

What is the best pearl color?

The most classic and widely preferred pearl color is white. The white pearl is considered a symbol of purity, and is often associated with wedding and graduation celebrations.

What is a Tahitian South Sea pearl?

Exotic South Sea pearls from the Black-lipped oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, are more commonly known as Tahitian South Sea pearls. These pearls are often referred to as black but have a remarkable colour range that covers the spectrum from light, creamy white and grey, to regal greens, aubergines and deep blacks.