The best quality pearls are often called AAA, AAAA, or A1, depending on the grading system, with the top tier featuring exceptional luster, near-flawless surfaces, and perfectly round shapes; the absolute pinnacle for Japanese Akoya pearls are Hanadama, which are independently certified for their superior quality, notes PearlsOnly, Pearls of Joy, and Pearls of Australia.
South Sea pearls, grown in Australia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, are prized for their large sizes and glowing, satiny luster, often fetching premium prices. These pearls are considered the pinnacle of sophistication and elegance in the pearl world, and are known as the "Queen of Cultured Pearls".
Certified Hanadama Akoya pearls are the finest Akoya pearls available; there is no grade above Hanadama, and there are no “levels” within the Hanadama grade. They are all top-notch. Mikimoto, by contrast, offers four different grades of Akoya pearls, with A being the lowest and AAA being the best.
Pearls are one of nature's most distinctive and colorful gems. They come from oceans, rivers, lakes, and ponds, and each one is unique. We'll help you learn about different types of pearls—including South Sea, Tahitian, Freshwater, and Akoya—and how they are graded.
The AAA-A System
This grading system ranks pearls from AAA to A, with AAA being the highest. A: Lower luster and defects on more than 25 percent of the surface.
She accessorized with Queen Elizabeth's Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings, which Kate frequently wears—most recently during the Qatar State Visit and on Remembrance Sunday.
The grade of Tiffany pearls varies from piece to piece. Generally, the celebrated fine jewelry house uses high-quality pearls with an AAA rating or better.
Tahitians naturally have a dark color, unlike black freshwater and black Akoya pearls, which have been treated with radiation or dye. Discover the perfect june birthstone jewelry from Rosec Jewels. Shop our selection of natural pearl jewelry in a variety of styles and more today.
It was Jackie Kennedy who said 'pearls are always appropriate,' meaning that they suit all occasions and all outfits. Indeed pearls are still worn by many brides on their wedding days and feature in most jewellers' windows today.
MIKIMOTO - The Originator of Cultured Pearls. Since 1893.
Genuine Akoya pearls, including cultured pearls, may have irregular textures on the surface. They also have a luster with multiple tones and clean drill holes. Real Akoya pearls tend to be denser than fake pearls, making real Akoya jewelry heavier than inauthentic pieces.
The best pearls in Australia are the highly prized Australian South Sea Pearls, known for their large size, thick nacre, and magnificent luster, cultured from the rare Pinctada maxima oyster in the pristine waters of Western Australia, with top producers including brands like Kailis Jewellery, Paspaley, Pearls of Australia, and Willie Creek Pearls. These pearls are considered among the finest globally, with some farms also producing unique Akoya and Keshi pearls, offering exceptional quality and environmental benefits.
Real pearl necklace prices vary dramatically, from under $100 for basic freshwater strands to tens of thousands for high-quality Akoya, Tahitian, or South Sea pearls, with factors like pearl type (Akoya, Freshwater, South Sea), size, luster, shape, and color heavily influencing cost. Expect entry-level freshwater pearls to start around $100-$300, while fine Akoya can range from $800-$2,500+, and premium South Sea pearls can exceed $10,000, notes Pure Pearls.
The type of pearl significantly impacts its price. South Sea and Tahitian pearl are the most expensive since they are rare and of great grade. Akoya pearl, known for their perfect round shape and outstanding beauty, are next. Freshwater pearl are the cheapest since they are wide in variety.
The sad reality is that old, second-hand cultured pearls aren't worth a lot. There's no obvious place to sell them and you won't get much from a jeweller or by putting them on eBay. Our advice is to keep them as a memento or give them to someone who'll appreciate them.
Rub them against your teeth and if they have a gritty texture, they're real. Plus pearls are always cool (plastic and fakes are warm to the touch).
Pearls go yellow when they dehydrate. After all, pearls are formed in oysters or mussels and originate in either fresh or saltwater depending on the type of pearl. As such, yellowed pearls occur more frequently if you allow your pearls to dehydrate.
The rarest pearl colors are natural blue and golden yellow, followed by strong pink, lavender, and true deep black, primarily from specific natural conditions or rare oysters like the Queen Conch (for pink) or Tahitian black-lip oysters, making them incredibly scarce compared to common white or dyed pearls.
Pearls below 7mm in size are considered to be on the smaller side, while 7-8mm and 8-9mm are among the more popular sizes selected for necklaces in Freshwater pearls. Anything sized from 9-10mm and above is considered to be above average in size, and such pearls are more rare and valuable.
The qualities that determine the overall value of a natural or cultured pearl or a piece of pearl jewelry are size, shape, color, luster, surface quality, nacre quality, and—for jewelry with two or more pearls—matching.
At Costco, we take pride in the fact that our pearl jewelry meets the industry's highest quality standards. Our process ensures our pearls have good luster, shape, color and no obvious blemishes, and that the size of the pearls match where applicable.
To commemorate her first state visit to Japan in 1975, Queen Elizabeth was given a set of very fine Japanese cultured Akoya pearls by the government of Japan. A few years later, the Queen commissioned her court jeweller, Garrard, to set these pearls into a four strand choker necklace with a curved diamond clasp.
Pearl earrings are extremely popular and typically set in metals. Pearls should match the metal in terms of colour. Warmer coloured pearls look good in rose and yellow gold, and white and black pearls look best in white gold and silver.