Shinju - Quality and Value of Pearls

Akoya

Mabé

Freshwater

South Sea

Tahitian

The first and most important step in assessing the value of a pearl is to determine whether it is the genuine item (either cultured or natural), or paste—a manufactured faux pearl.

R E A L	F A K E
Cold to the touch; quickly adopts body temperature.	Always the same temperature as its environment.
Gritty when rubbed across the teeth.	Smooth on teeth.
Drilled holes are smooth around the edges.	Holes are bumpy, as if pearl melted during drilling.
Heavy to hold.	Light in weight.

A pearl is judged by a variety of factors.
AAA-quality pearls are government certified
to meet the strictest standards of excellence.
Shinju Pearl deals primarily in AAA-quality pearls.

Shape

Round pearls are the most treasured and the most difficult to cultivate. Although the implants used are round, the resulting pearls can be baroque (shaped like a teardrop), because the calcium deposits are often layered unevenly by the host oyster. Pearls also appear as button, coin, flat, rice, oval, and cross shaped.

L U S T E R

Luster is the inner glow; it’s the shine that beams from within the pearl. The deeper the luster, the more precious and expensive the pearl. Pearls that appear cloudy or milky are of low quality.

C O L O R

The inner shell of the oyster determines the color of the pearl. But pearls can also be dyed, so color is considered a minor factor in pearl value.

S I Z E

Larger sizes, which are more difficult to cultivate, are scarcer and command higher prices. A pearl is measured to the half-millimeter—for example, 6.0 x 6.5 mm.

S U R F A C E
C L A R I T Y

Blemishes such as wrinkles or pits on the surface devalue a pearl. Some imperfections are to be expected during the natural formation process, but too many flaws diminish the value of the gem.

Weight*

Heavier weight means that a thick nacre (calcium coating) has accrued. As weight increases, so does value. In Japan, all cultured pearls must be inspected and weighed by government officials.

*Outside Japan, weight is not considered.

Akoya

The most valuable type of pearl, these gems are grown in the Akoya oysters of Japan. They are known for their radiance and deep luster. Shinju sells mainly Akoya pearls.

Mabé

(Pronounced mah-beh.) A pearl grown on the inside shell of an oyster. Its hemispherical (half-round) shape allows the host oyster to produce a larger pearl.

Freshwater

Pearls cultured in freshwater mollusks are generally small and off-shape and have a cloudy luster. These pearls come in a variety of shapes (button, coin, flat, rice, oval) and natural colors (orange, gold, white, purple, blue, and black).

South Sea

These black, white, and silver-toned pearls are grown in the waters around Australia and Tahiti. The oysters of these waters are large, allowing for a larger pearl (10 mm or more) to be grown inside the oyster.