South Sea Pearl Buying Guide

Of all the pearls around the world, one is revered above all others: the South Sea Pearl. Grown in the deep seas off Australia's coast, the South Sea pearl is prized for its brilliant gold or white shine. Shopping for South Sea pearls can be confusing. An informed shopper should gather as much information as possible so as to make an educated decision.





Grading South Sea Pearls





Pearl necklaces are graded by the Five S's: Shine, Surface, Shade, Shape and Size.





Shine (Luster) is the way that light reflects and shines through the pearl. Because a pearl is an organic object, it often has Surface markings such as nicks, scratches, small indentations and discolorations. (A pearl void of such markings is considered perfect and only accounts for 5-10% of the total amount of pearls harvested each year).





South Sea pearls have a wide variety when it comes to color and overtone, with different Shades being considered more desirable than others. Pearl Shape can range all the way from Baroque to Perfect-Round, with different shapes being considered more valuable than others due to their rarity. Size is the total circumference of the pearl, usually measured in millimeters. The combination of these qualities factors in to the total grade of the necklace, resulting in a rating of A, A+, AA, AA+ and AAA. The highest grade for a pearl necklace is AAA quality. AAA pearls are the most desirable and valuable. They are impressive gifts to give someone who especially cares about quality and value.





South Sea Pearl Luster





Shine (Luster) is the way that light reflects from the pearl. It is the most important factor in determining a pearl's value. Luster is what gives the pearl its iridescence and depth. Luster is determined by the thickness of pearl nacre, the coating that makes up the pearl. Very lustrous pearls have a deep-mirror like surface and a bright shine. Pearls with low luster look dull and foggy. South Sea pearls are in possession of thick, creamy nacre and are famous for their rich, silky luster.





One way to examine the luster of a pearl necklace is to lay the strand on a table and look at the pearls from 20 inches away. The sharper and clearer your reflection is on the pearls’ surface, the higher the luster.





South Sea Pearl Surface





As pearls are an organic creation, they often have surface imperfections. Flawless South Sea pearls are very rare and command a much higher price. The surface of a pearl is graded by how many imperfections are visible and to what percentage they are distributed. These marks can range from small and nearly unnoticeable, to quite large and distinct. When buying pearl jewelry, be sure to examine the pearl surface carefully for these kinds of flaws.





South Sea Pearl Color





South Sea Pearls have a wide variety of colors and overtones, ranging from white, silver, yellow and gold with subtle undertones of pink, blue and green.





Among these colors, deep golden or white hues are the most desirable and valuable.





Golden South Sea Pearl Necklace: The deeper the golden color, the more rare and valuable the pearls are. Their beautiful glowing hue creates a sense of warmth; livening the complexion and creating a feeling of luxury.





White South Sea Pearl Necklace: Famous for their rich, creamy color, White South Sea pearls can have rose or silver overtones. While pearls with silver tones are more popular, South Sea pearls with rose overtones are considered to be rarer and more valuable.





When buying a White South Sea pearl necklace, keep in mind that pearls with white body color are more valuable than those with ivory or cream. Use caution, as some sellers may sell cream South Sea pearls as white ones for a higher price.





When choosing color, keep in mind the complexion of the wearer. For example, if the wearer has a dark complexion, the golden color would be a good choice. If the wearer has a fair complexion, a white or silver hue would be nice.





When examining the color of a South Sea pearl necklace, it is best to view it under natural light. Pearl color will look slightly different under various types of lighting. Pure morning light is the ideal time. Florescent light tends to give pearls a more bluish or yellowish hue, while incandescent light lends pearls a more reddish hue.





South Sea Pearl Shape





South Sea pearl shapes include perfect round, semi-round, circle, oval, button, drop, and baroque. Because symmetry is rare in nature, round shapes are the most highly valued. While a strand of round South Sea pearl necklace is the most classic and valuable, a nearly round necklace can create a similar look at a significantly reduced price. Another option to consider is a baroque necklace. Stylish and fun, it can be worn with everything from a pair of jeans to a Gucci bustier.





South Sea Pearl Size





The most common sizes for South Sea Pearls are 10mm – 15mm. South Sea pearls in 16mm - 20mm are very rare and extremely valuable. Ultimately, the size of a necklace is a personal preference as it reflects individual style and personality. When choosing a size, you should consider the wearing purpose of the necklace. Generally, larger necklaces are more extravagant and create a statement; while smaller necklaces are more for everyday wear.





South Sea Pearl Necklace Matching and Workmanship





It is important to examine the workmanship of a pearl necklace. Poorly matched pearls with obvious color differences will lessen the beauty of your necklace, causing its value to drop dramatically. When you receive your necklace, examine it by letting it hang off the tip of your finger. Examine whether the line of the necklace is straight, the knotted tie too tight or too loose and whether the finish is beautiful.





South Sea Pearl Necklace Graduation





Graduation means that the pearls are strung from smallest to largest, starting at the clasp and ending with the largest pearl in the center of the necklace. This is traditionally done to capture the elegant, interesting look it creates.





South Sea Pearl Necklace Length





When choosing pearl necklace length, keep in mind both the size of the wearer and the effect you wish to create. Traditionally 16 inches, or choker necklace length, is considered the classic look, while longer lengths are ideal for casual, business, or evening wear. It is an ideal choice for those with high necklines as well. The most popular length for a pearl necklace is 17 inches; a length that is not quite a choker yet does not drape extravagantly low on the wearer.





Millimeters Vs Inches





Pearls are measured in millimeter. 1 inch is equivalent to about 25mm. Therefore, a 10mm pearl is equal to 0.4 inches.





South Sea Pearl Necklace Pricing





Due to their size and rarity, South Sea pearls can be expensive. Here are some quick tips to help you in the decision making process: When selecting a necklace it is wise to choose quality over size.





High quality South Sea pearls are a statement of perfection and sophistication. Also, they are rare and have investment value. A high quality South Sea pearl necklace can last for generations.





Where to Buy





When buying South Sea pearl jewelry, compare prices from both online sellers and local stores. On average, local dealers tend to charge considerably more than online sellers. It is best to buy from a trusted online source. Make sure to check the sites’ return policy, customer support, and customer reviews.

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Buying Cultured Pearl Necklaces

Most pearls sold in the market are cultured pearls especially the freshwater cultured pearls that are harvested in Japan and China. These pearls are known for their luster and round size that are perfect for jewelries. Pearl jewelries such as cultured pearl necklaces, bracelets, earrings and pendants are available in a wide variety of colors, designs and sizes. Buying cultured pearl necklace should meet your standard for quality and durability along with your budget, style and skin tone.
Particularly for pearl necklaces, one has to decide which among the different lengths of pearl necklaces she wants to buy. Pearl strands which are 10-13 inches long are called collars. Chokers which are more commonly sold as the classic piece of pearl necklace have a length of 14 to 16 inches. A princess length which shows more radiance in evening gowns is 17 to 19 inches long while a matinee length is 20-24 inches. An opera length is 28 to 35 inches long and anything more than this long is called a pearl rope.
Cultured pearl necklaces come in various beautiful colors that would match any skin tone. The classic akoya cultured pearls compliment a fair skin and dark colored Tahitian pearls go well with rosy pink and olive skin. The rare black pearls are stunningly beautiful when worn in any occasions because of its deep and classic beauty.
The contemporary style of cultured pearl necklaces goes for metal chain such as gold or silver with the beautiful pearls hanging on it. Some necklaces are even a combination of other gems that make them truly unique sets.

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Buying Guide for a Mikimoto Pearl Necklace

The highest quality cultured pearl necklaces are those produced and created by Mikimoto. These pearls are known for their unparalleled beauty and brilliance. It is said that once you wear Mikimoto pearls, any other kind of pearl will seem second-rate. Mikimoto pearls are so refined in quality that its fans include the royal families of Britain and Japan, Marilyn Monroe and Monaco's Princess Grace.

Here are some information on what Mikimoto cultured pearls are, where they came from and how to buy them.

How pearls are formed

A pearl is the result of an oyster or mollusks' reaction to an irritant that invades its shell. To try to protect itself, the mollusk secretes a crystalline substance called nacre which builds up in layers upon layers, surrounding the irritant. When this happens, a pearl is born.

Pearls have been cultured for centuries not just in Japan, but in other countries as well. Much of the products result to semispherical pearls, also called mabe pearls from the oyster that grew them, and not in the more coveted spherical pearls. It was Kokichi Mikimoto who developed a special technique to induce oysters to create a round pearl.

The man behind the name

Cultured pearls as we know them, owe a lot to Kokichi Mikimoto, the man who perfected the pearl culturing method that is still used today. Contrary to popular belief, he did not invent the industry although he did play a very significant role in advancing the techniques which contributed to the improvement in cultured pearl quality.

Mikimoto, the son of a noodle restaurant owner, was born in 1885 in Toba City, Japan. He was first introduced to pearls when he started raising oysters. Around this time, Japan was already trading pearls with other countries and pearl oysters were in danger of becoming over-harvested. Mikimoto decided to concentrate on experiments in seeding oysters and producing pearls.

The first endeavors were failures. Mikimoto and his colleagues repeatedly encountered disappointing results, due in part to uncontrollable factors like water temperature and red tide. But this did nothing to dissuade Mikimoto from his dream.

His efforts paid off eventually. On July 11, 1893, with his wife Ume, he discovered a beautiful pearl in one of his oysters. He never looked back since. By the time he died in 1954, the highly honored Mikimoto had successfully advocated and promoted cultured pearls and opened markets all over the world. Today, his name is synonymous to the highest quality cultured pearls.

Buying your Mikimoto pearl necklace

Pearl necklaces come in several lengths. From the shortest to the longest, they are: collar (10"-13"), choker (14"-16"), princess (18"-20"), matinee (20"-24"), opera (28"-34") and rope (37" and longer). The length of the pearl necklace will depend on the woman's age, body composition and neck size, although an 18 to 24-inch pearl necklace is a good length for anyone. Generally speaking, the longer the necklace, the more it 'elongates' the neck.

The mark of "M"

Every jewelry created by Mikimoto including pearl necklaces, has an "M" stamped on its setting. This is a guarantee of quality. However, in some cases, the mark of "M" will only guarantee that the setting is genuine and not the pearls, which can be replaced and restrung.

A caveat: there is a black market for Mikimoto clasps, where original Mikimoto clasps are used for cheaper or imitation-quality pearls. Beware also of 'closeout' Mikimoto sales, even if they come in 'new' 18k gold.

The best way to distinguish a true high-quality Mikimoto pearl from other pearls is to look for a unique road map or line pattern on the surface of the pearls under a 10x magnifying lens. Experienced jewelers can recognize this. On your own, you will want to find genuine Mikimoto pearls to compare with your intended purchase. Once you see the difference, true Mikimoto pearls are easily recognizable.

You might also encounter pearl necklaces that are labeled 'Mikimoto quality'. This is misleading. These are not pearls produced under the patented Mikimoto process. True Mikimoto pearl necklaces are those produced under stringent conditions in Ise in Honshu, Japan.

Akoya vs. Mikimoto

Another fine quality pearl is akoya pearls, although this is a general term used to refer to saltwater pearls. These are not Mikimoto pearls and they don't cost the same.

Grading method

Mikimoto pearls are rated using four grades, with AAA being the highest. There are 4 sub-grades starting with AAA1. Highest-grade pearls are those with the best luster and reflective quality, almost mirror-like, while lower-grade pearls are those with reasonably clear reflection.

When buying your Mikimoto pearl necklace, be sure to ask for grading certificates. This is not only good for insurance, but it is also a guarantee that what you are paying for is a true Mikimoto pearl necklace.

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Some Things to Remember When Buying White Pearl Collar Necklaces

White pearl collar necklaces have been around for centuries. This style reached its peak during the Victorian era, where women of high birth wore them to accentuate their necks or over their high-collars to accessorize their clothes. White pearl collar necklaces have recently been making a comeback and enjoying a new popularity with stylish women of all ages.

White pearls are a favorite of women in the U.S. In Asia, women prefer silver-colored pearls. White has always been the color associated with pearls, even though they do come in a variety of shades and tones. White has remained a favorite over the years because of their simple and understated elegance.

Choosing pearl quality

One of the rarer pearls and the more expensive are natural pearls, produced 'by accident' when underwater irritants enter the shell of an oyster. Cultured pearls are the more common, since they are created using artificially planted 'nuclei'. They are in no way inferior to natural pearls and in fact are quite valuable; they are just produced differently.

When choosing fine white pearls, remember several factors that contribute to its beauty and value: the nacre thickness, luster, surface texture, size and shape.

Nacre thickness is probably the most important factor to consider when buying white pearls. Nacre is the crystalline/organic substance that is excreted by the oyster or mollusk when an irritant or nucleus enters its shell. This substance coats the irritant in layers, until it becomes thick. This coated irritant or nuclei becomes the pearl.

Nacre thickness differentiates a high-quality pearl from a low-grade one. The thicker the nacre coating, the more durable and long-lasting the pearl is. Pearls with thinner nacres usually do not maintain their luster over the years and may in fact chip off.

Luster refers to the reflective quality of the pearl. The pearl has a mirror-like surface and the quality of its luster is directly affected by the thickness of the nacre. The thicker it is, the deeper the shine. High-quality white pearls reflect light and the surrounding objects best.

Surface texture refers to the clearness and smoothness of the pearl. It is the near absence of imperfection on the surface. No pearl has the perfect surface, but minimum and nearly imperceptible flaws affect its overall look and value. Pearls are graded depending on its imperfections, like spots, bumps, discolorations and other irregularities that show on its surface.

The size of the pearl is determined by its diameter and is measured in millimeters. Tiny pearls measure from 1mm and under while bigger pearls can reach a diameter of as much as 20mm, just below an inch. With all things being equal, size can mean a huge difference in the value of a pearl. The bigger ones, of course, fetch the higher price.

Pearls are never perfect. If one such is found, it is probably the rarest and the most expensive. Because pearls follow the general shape of its irritant or nucleus, it can come in a variety of shapes, from the spherical to the symmetrical to the baroque. Which one you pick for your pearl collar will depend on your preference.

Color and overtone

White pearls are white, right? Well, not quite. Aside from the similar silver color, there are also white pearls whose main body color is affected by its overtone. Overtones are hints of color that lie on top of the main body color of the pearl. Think of a pearl as a tiny white sphere and its overtone like a slightly colored clear plastic that is wrapped tightly and smoothly over it and you can imagine how slightly different the white would appear.

White pearls could have one or more overtones. These can enhance the beauty of white pearls and provide a unique glow to its iridescent quality. Some white pearls, for example can have pink or yellow overtones. Which one you choose is really just a matter of personal taste.

Why collar necklaces?

Collar necklaces have an old-time charm. If you look at paintings and illustrations that date back some centuries ago, you will find collar necklaces adorning the necks of women, even queens and princesses.

Collar necklaces are about 12 to 13 inches long and may be composed of three or more strands of pearls. These are worn to fit the middle of the neck snugly. They are best worn during semi-formal to formal occasions when they can accentuate a slender neck and draw a stop to a pointed chin.

Choosing the right-size pearls

When buying white pearl collar necklaces, it's a good idea to consider the age, face shape and body composition of the wearer. Generally, smaller pearls look best for children and teens, medium pearls for women in the 20s to the 30s while older women may look best in bigger pearls.

A good thing to remember is that the pearl collar is worn as an accessory and thus should not overwhelm the face. Otherwise, nobody will notice the wearer anymore. It will only be the pearls that they will see. Worse, if the size isn't right, it will look like your pearls are borrowed from someone else.

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