The value of the pearls in jewelry is determined by a combination of the luster, color, size and shape.
Lustre: A good-quality pearl should have a bright luster. Any pearl that looks too chalky or dull indicates poor quality.
Surface: A good quality pearl should not have any disfiguring spots, bumps, pitting or cracks.
Basic shapes of the Pearl: Round, Semi-round, Button, Drop, Pear, Oval, Baroque, and Circled.
* Perfectly round pearls are the rarest and most valuable shape.
* Semi-rounds are also used in necklaces or in pieces where the shape of the pearl can be disguised to look like it is a perfectly round pearl.
* Button pearls are like a slightly flattened round pearl and can also make a necklace, but are more often used in single pendants or earrings where the back half of the pearl is covered, making it look like a larger, round pearl.
* Drop and pear shaped pearls are sometimes referred to as teardrop pearls and are most often seen in earrings, pendants, or as a center pearl in a necklace.
* Baroque pearls have a different appeal to them than more standard shapes because they are often highly irregular and make unique and interesting shapes. They are also commonly seen in necklaces.
* Circled pearls are characterized by concentric ridges, or rings, around the body of the pearl.
Colours of the Pearl: The cultured pearls are found in a number of different colors. While color is a matter of individual preference, rose or silver/white pearls tend to look best on fair skin tones, while cream and gold-tone pearls are flattering on darker complexions.
Size:The average cultured pearls are between 7 and 7½ millimeters in diameter. Generally, the larger the pearl, the more valuable it will be.
