Introduction
Madison Pearls takes pride in importing the highest quality of pearls through many sources around the world. In order to earn your trust, we have created this guide which will give you tips on purchasing a beautiful set of pearls that will bring you many years of enjoyment and beauty.
Buyer Beware
It's unfortunate that we have to make this statement but you need to beware of purchasing pearls and any other jewelry on the Internet. There are many pearl and jewelry companies out there selling products that do not meet industry standards.
We recommend that you ensure the company you purchase from is reputible by:
- 1. Check their legal business registration with the state in which they reside. You can view our verification with the State of Nebraska here.
- 2. Read the company's store and privacy policy. You can view our privacy policy here and store policy here.
- 3. Examine the company's product promotions - if it sounds too good to be true... it probably is!
In additon to our standards set below, we meet or exceed the standards set by the Gemological Institute of America.
Grading Scale
There is no industry standard in grading pearls and many factors can be subjectively taken into account. The unofficial generally accepted standard is the A-AAA scale. This is the scale we use. You'll find that some retailers will use AAA+, AAAA or other type of scales to market their pearls however these are typically used as a marketing ploy and are deemed questionable in the industry.
The general definition of the A-AAA scale is as follows:
- AAA - The highest quality pearl, virtually flawless. The surface will have a very high luster, and at least 95% of the surface will be free from defect.
- AA - The surface will have a very high luster, and at least 75% of the surface will be free from any type of defect.
- A - This is the lowest jewelry grade pearl, with a low luster and more than 25% of the surface showing defects. In many cases it can be mounted into a piece of jewelry so that the defects are hidden.
The other scale that can be used for Tahitan and South Sea pearls is the A-C scale. For the purposes of our website
we may use the scales interchangably, for example A/AAA, B/AA, C/A
Types
Each type of pearl has it's own specific elements of beauty.
The types of pearls by origin are shown here:
Color
Pearls come in a variety of colors however, natural colors are white, gray, peach, pink, and black. Pearls also can be dyed which deminishes their quality and value. We do not retail dyed pearls.
When looking at pearls, keep these three things in mind:
- 1. Body color - The predominant basic color of the pearl.
- 2. Overtone - The one or more colors that overlie the body color.
- 3. Iridescense - A play of lustrous colors. They may be like those of the rainbow, or subtle combination of colors such as pink, blue, green, and silver.
Luster
Luster is the brilliancy and beauty of reflected light that comes from within the pearl. A low luster pearl may appear chalky and resemble a plastic bead. The stronger the luster, the higher value of pearl.
The GIA grades luster according to these categories:
- Excellent - Reflections are bright, sharp, and distinct
- Good - Reflections are bright but not sharp, and they are slightly hazy around the edges
- Fair - Reflections are weak, hazy, and blurred
- Poor - Reflections are dim and diffused
Surface
Surface is one of the first things consumers look for when purchasing pearls. Since all pearls come from Mother Nature, pearls are rarely perfect in every aspect.
These surface imperfections should be avoided:
- 1. Cracks throughout the pearls
- 2. Patches of missing nacre (the hard coating around the pearl)
- 3. Prominent flaws on a single pearl
- 4. Obvious discolorations throughout the pearls
- 5. Blemishes which cover the majority of the surface of the pearl
GIA
- Clean: Pearls are blemish – free or contain minute surface characteristics that are very difficult to see by a trained observer.
- Lighly blemished: Pearls show minor surface irregularities when examined by a trained observer.
- Moderately blemished: Pearls show noticeable surface characteristics.
- Heavily blemished: Pearls show obvious surface irregularities that might affect durability.
Shape
There are six common shapes when shopping for pearls. Each shape holds its own value and uniqueness. When paired up with a well designed piece of jewelry, the result can be amazing.
Size
The size of your pearl has a lot to do with the overall value. Pearls 8-9mm generally increase much higer in price than smaller pearls.
Here are the common pearl sizes:
Note: The images represented here may not be to scale and should be considered relative to each other.