Tips to buy Pearls

The Key To Buying Pearls Online Starts With Knowing The Tips!

In this article I am going to give you the tips to buy pearls which include general knowledge on pearls, how to grade the pearls and how to care for your pearls, I also provide a worksheet for you to grade your pearls.

 

General Tips to buy pearls

Tips to buy pearls (How to grade the pearls)

The seven factors (under GIA pearl grading system) that affect the value of pearls are:

Size is measured in millimeters.

Shape- Spherical, symmetrical and baroque.

Color - Pearl color has three main components:  bodycolor, overtone, and orient.Bodycolor is the overall color of the pearl.Overtone refers to one or more noticeable translucent colors that overlie the bodycolor. Orient is a form  form of iridescence that appears to be on or just below the surface.

Luster - is the light reflected from the surface of the pearl.

Surface quality - is judged by the size, number, location, visibility and types of blemishes.  Few pearls are completely blemish free.

Nacre quality - if the nucleus is visible, the nacre is too thin.  A chalky appearance might result from thin nacre or poor nacre layering.

Matching describles the uniformity of pearls in jewelry. It is not a true pearl quality factor, but it does impact value and depends on the consistency of the other six factors.  

You can use the following worksheet to grade the pearls you like.... just check against the boxes below.

Pearl Type Put a tick here
Fresh Water
Akoya
South Sea
Tahitian
Size (nearest 0.5mm)
Shape
Round
Near Round
Oval
Button
Drop
Semi-Baroque
Baroque
Color
Body Color
Overtone
Orient (Yes)
Orient (No)
Evidence of treatment
Yes
No
Not sure
Luster
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Surface Quality
Clean
Lightly Blemished
Moderately Blemished
Heavily Blemished
Type of Blemish
Abrasion
Bump
Chip
Crack
Flat
Gap
Pit
Scratch
Spot
Wrinkle
Nacre Quality
Acceptable
Unacceptable
Matching
Not applicable Excellent
to a single pearl Good
Fair

Tips to buy pearls (How to care for your pearls)

Last item to put on; but the first item to take out when wearing your pearls.

Not to keep your pearls with other jewelry; as the hardness of pearls are very low (3.5 to 4 on Moh scale), the surface of pearl may be scratched by other jewelry if you keep them together.

Not to wear them when you are in the kitchen. The smoke and oil may enter from the surface of the pearls and turn them yellow in no time.

Not to wash them in hotwater or tap water. The internal structure of pearls (mainly CaCo3) may be affected in hot water. Tap water has a lot of chlorine which is harmful to pearls.

Dont keep them in safe and seal them with airtight bag or box. (pearls contain 2% of water, you must air them so that the water content will always be refresh.

Not to touch its surface too frequently, you may scratch them unintentionally.

Tie a knot between each pearl and change the string once in every three years. So that if the string gave way, you will only lose one and not all your pearls.

Never ultrasonic or steam-clean pearls or use toothpaste to wash them. keep them in a small jewelry bag when not in use.

Clean pearls regularly with a soft, damp cloth.

Use non-detergent soap, lay pearls on a clean towel and dry completely before wearing.

Remove pearl jewelry before you apply cosmetics, perfume or hair spray. Not to wear them when you are playing games, do strenuous work or swim in chlorinated po