Pearl Guide
Pearl’s are small miracles of nature. Each one a special creation. Of all the pearls across the globe, the South Sea Pearls, with their strange perfections and unique imperfections, are the rarest and most valued.
At Nina’s we’ll show you our extensive range of South Sea cultured pearls, each with a character of its own. And each one judged and valued according to the five S’s ~ Shine, Surface, Shade, Shape, Size. Each of these five characteristics affect the value of the South Sea pearl.
Shine
This is the pearl’s lustre or radiance. It’s the light reflected from the pearl’s surface combined with its deep inner glow. The lustre is considered the soul of the pearl. A brilliant lustre will produce an almost mirror reflection. The more lustrous the pearl, the higher the value.
Surface
The two essential aspects to the surface of a pearl are the blemishes and the grain. Pearls are graded according to the extent of visible blemishes and to the grain, which is the composition of the pearl’s skin and its structure. Even the most beautiful and valuable pearls have slight imperfections or blemishes. These natural ‘beauty marks’ give the pearl its individual character. The fewer blemishes and pearl grain on the surface, the more valuable the pearl.
Shade
South Sea pearls are highly coveted for their richly varied colours and complexions. From deep intense colours, with various hues, to light hints of soft colour. Every pearl reflects colour in a different and subtle way, often displaying beautiful iridescent overtones. Despite the wide variance in shade and hue, all South Sea pearls belong to either a white, yellow or black range. Shade is a personal preference. However Gold, Silver and white are most valuable. Ivory and Blue shades are next, followed by Champagne Rose, Grey and Cream.
Shape
Pearls are a product of nature so every pearl is individual and unique. The major categories of South Sea pearl shapes are: Round, Near Round, Drop, Button, Baroque and Circle. With shape, Round is the most valuable with the more irregular shaped Baroque being the least valuable.
- Round
- Very few pearls are perfectly round.
- Near Round
- Near Round pearls are ideal for jewellery and strand making as they appear round once set.
- Drop
- Teardrop, Oval and Egg shaped pearls, and the more unusual Semi Drop and Cone shapes are all Drop shaped pearls.
- Button
- These can vary dramatically. High Button pearls are often very similar in shape to Near Round pearls.
- Baroque
- The baroque pearl is the most individual South Sea pearl, with its irregular or free form shape.
- Circle
- A pearl with one or more parallel grooves etched around its circumference.
- Keshi
- A seedless pearl, possessing an allure, entirely different and individual.
Size
South Sea pearls are renowned for their large sizes, most commonly ranging from 9-20mm. Though extremely rare, the irregularly shaped Baroque South Sea pearl can reach sizes up to 40mm or more. Size is simple. The larger the pearl, the greater the value.
Pearls are weighed in mommes, an old Japanese measure still used for all pearls. One momme is equal to 3.75 grams or 18.75 cts.
But because pearls are such unique gems, your personal taste will have a great influence on the choice that you make.