Great Tips To Buy Quality Pearls - Pearl Jewelry!

For any jewelry lover it is important to get some pearl education before buying it. Since pearl jewelry comes in various price ranges, from $1 to over $10,000, one wonders what makes one pearl necklace item more expensive than the other. Well, there are no secrets but the pearl jewelry industry as a whole, both at domestic and international markets, evaluate pearls based on few facts that the customer may like to keep them in mind.

- First and foremost comes the LUSTER, as luster is the king. The brilliant shine and glow in any pearl is top most factor when comes to grading them. Both inner glow and outer surface shine is very important as no customers would like to spend thousands of dollars on jewelry that is less attractive. A very good luster means it has higher pearl value.

- When it comes to pearl outer SURFACE, the less blemishes and very clean surface surely are graded at higher value. Higher quality of pearls have mirror like finish and without any blemishes on their surface.

- Pearls are commonly measured in millimeters (mm) in their diameter. So large SIZE pearls carry higher value but again even small size pearls that are very shining, thick nacre and perfect shape and clean surface often carry more value that the larger ones that are less round, out of shape or have less luminance. Even 1 mm makes the difference.

- Typically, white COLOR is synonymous with pearls but they do come in other attractive colors. The natural pearl colors are white, black, champagne, green, gray, aqua and golden. Most irradiated or dyed pearls have surface colors and are less expensive than the natural ones.

-         Since there are many TYPES of pearls, one must keep in mind that each type is priced differently. There are four types of pearls; freshwater pearls, akoya seawater pearls, Tahitian pearls and south sea pearls. Their gestation period ranges from 2 to 6 years. Freshwater pearls are more affordable than others. Akoya pearls are the next category that are very popular and less expensive and have high nacre.

-         Then comes the pearl NACRE - the very iridescent internal layer of a mollusk shell. Perhaps most people already know that it is a natural substance pearl oysters secrete to protect its sensitive internal flesh against any irritant that enters their body. The thin nacre is very prone to chipping and peeling. Thicker layer commands more value because of its greater luster depth.

- Finally comes the SHAPE of pearls. The perfect round pearls are very valuable and found in very small quantity. Many designers often play with other shapes as well like irregular baroque, potato, pear or tear shape and some off round ones. 

Buying quality pearl jewelry often gets money's worth manifold overtime.