Cultured Akoya pearls are graded using the Japanese Pearl Grading System, using the A-AAA Scale with the addition of Hanadama Akoya pearls representing the highest pinnacle of the pearl type. The A-AAA system evaluates pearls according to Surface Quality, Luster, and perfection of Shape (roundness and symmetry).
The luster of good quality pearls is sharp and bright. You should be able to see your reflection clearly on the surface of a pearl. Any pearl that appears too white, dull or chalky, is of low quality.
White and Golden South Sea pearls are the largest and most luxurious of all cultured pearl types on the market today. Often called the “Queen of Pearls”, South Sea pearls feature a gorgeous palette of natural Golden and White colors that shimmer with delicate overtones and are simply unmistakable.
While the white pearls are also priced by jewelers, the gold pearl variety is the most coveted color. The gold South sea pearl's color can range from creamy white to deep gold, and the darker the color, the more expensive it becomes.
The Southsea pearl is the most luxurious and sought-after pearl. Cultivated within the large White-lipped oyster and the Gold-lipped oyster, the pearls are both the largest and most lustrous in natural shades of white, silver, champagne and gold.
South Sea pearls are often referred to as the Rolls Royce of pearls. They are the largest and most valuable pearls grown today, with average sizes ranging from 10 to 15 millimeters. South Sea pearls grow in a large pearl oyster native to Australia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia.
South Sea pearls are considered the most valuable. They are also the largest pearl variety on the market. A strand of South Sea pearls can range from $1,000 to over $100,000.
The highest value pearl colors belong to Tahitian pearls, and include blue, brown, purple, peacock and aubergine. Next is Akoya with white and silver, followed by freshwater pearls in shades of white and lavender. South Sea pearls in silver and gold are also very valuable and sought after by collectors.
Pearls are a Good Investment
Both natural and cultured pearls are fine gems similar to diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. Though pearls do not increase their value the same way as the mentioned gems, pearls can still retain their original value, especially if you care for them.
The quality of pearls coming from the Blacklip Mother of Pearl or the Pinctada margaritifera is the highest quality out of all the pearl oysters. The oysters produce gray, black or dark lustrous pearls with shells growing for about 200-250 mm.
Freshwater pearls are cheaper because they are easier to extract, making sea pearls more valued. Why? Sea pearls are larger, more beautiful in shape, luster, smoother surface and, of course, much more expensive than freshwater pearls.
A natural pearl may show growth lines where concentric layers of nacre have been added. Cultured pearls on the other hand will appear to have a perfectly rounded nucleus that's surrounded by a halo of conchiolin and finally a thin outer layer.
A traditional strand of white pearls can range from $100 (Freshwater pearl necklace) to $10,000 (Akoya pearl necklace). A strand of large, flawless South Sea pearls could even be valued as high as $100,000+ . The truth is there is no simple answer to the question “how much are pearls worth” is…
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.
It's often assumed that because something's old it must be valuable. That's rarely true and certainly not for pearls. Advances in technology and culturing techniques mean you can buy a much better set of pearls for far less money than in grandma's time.
The most common color for pearls is white, cream, pink, purple, but they also come in colors such as champagne, chocolate, blue, gold, silver and lavender. Some pearls have stunning overtones that exhibit multicolors.
Why were these pearls cheaper? Because they were smaller. And they were not just small in size but they were early harvest pearls. This means they did not stay in the water very long and did not have the depth of nacre quality that South Sea Pearls are known for.
One of the biggest reasons for the high price of Mikimoto's pearls is their stringent grading system. The pearls come in four grades- A, A+, AA, and AAA. While the A-grade pearls are the lowest quality, the AAA pearls are the best.
The most classic and widely preferred pearl color is white. The white pearl is considered a symbol of purity, and is often associated with wedding and graduation celebrations.
The Australian South Sea Pearls are the Jewels of the Ocean and are the rarest and most highly prized pearls in the world. They are known as the Queen of Pearls.
When compared to other varieties, such as Tahitian and South Sea, Akoya pearls definitely offer good value for money without compromising on beauty. Freshwater pearls lack the deep, beautiful gleam of an Akoya. However, the palette of colors and attractive pricing makes them a great option for many people.
Because South Sea Pearls form over longer periods of time, they are more costly to cultivate. For this reason, there are a limited number of South Sea pearl farms, making the truly prized South Seas exceptionally rare. Not all cultured pearls are good enough to become Assael pearls.
Pearls are unique among gemstones in that they are natural, organic products of living creatures, so they have different grading standards. Seven factors determine the quality, value and beauty of pearls: size, shape, colour, lustre, surface quality, nacre quality and matching.