subject: How to Buy Pearl Jewelry - Maximum Vale For Minimum Money [print this page] How to Buy Pearl Jewelry - Maximum Vale For Minimum Money
Pearls are, and have always been, in high demand as jewelry accessories. They look amazing as necklaces and bracelets and they have a timeless and universal quality that work with all kinds of clothes. If you are on the hunt for a pearl, go ahead and read these 4 simple tips to getting the maximum value for your money. Stop overpaying for poor quality!
Grading:
There is no industry standards accepted by all with pearls, as there is with for example diamonds. That means it can be difficult to compare pearls from different companies. However, more and more companies are at least using the basic 'A' and 'AA+' classification. In order for a pearl to even be worth buying, and to be classified as 'A', it must be of a reasonable quality. That means no big cracks or imperfections. A pearl that is classified as 'AA+' will be top quality and definitely worth shelling out for. 'A' quality items though, are absolutely worth buying as well.
Shape:
Pearls are actually rarely completely round, since they are grown organically, either in the wild (natural) or on farms (cultured). That also means, that the round specimen will be much more expensive than those with other shapes. Keep this in mind if you have a budget. You can usually get much better value for money by buying an item that is not round shaped.
Luster:
The luster or lustre is the 'shine' in the pearl, the 'inner glow'. This is easy to spot. A pearl with high lustre will seem to glow and be alive, while lower quality items can be dull and almost chalk like. The higher the lustre, the higher the prize. Luster is quite important for the look of the finished piece, so try to get as high luster as your budget can afford.
Surface:
The surface quality is another important factor, the cleaner and smoother, the better it is. As pearls are natural products, you will always have imperfections and small blemishes. However, the highest quality item will only have small imperfections that are only visible under close scrutiny.
The best way to begin when buying jewelry is always to decide on your budget. With pearls, there is really no limit as there are so many kinds available. If you have a clear idea of your budget, then it's much easier to stay within those limits and find the best item available.
