5 Pearl Buying FAQs and Howto Best Answer Them

As the great Jackie Kennedy once said, “Pearls are alwaysappropriate.” Like most other gemstones, pearls don’t fitneatly into one particular category. Their subtle, luxuriousbeauty boasts multiple personalities to suit the manycustomers who choose them. In our experience, we receivemultiple pearl buying FAQs from our wonderful customers. Sowe’ve sought out our gemstone experts to share all there is toknow about pearl buying.

Here are five pearl buying FAQs and howto best answer them:

What are the different typesof pearls?South Sea

Originally exclusive to Australia, South Sea pearls are nowcultured in Indonesia, Burma, and the Philippines. Colorsrange from white pink and silver pink to dark gold. Australianpearls can throw fancy colors including red gold — extremely

rare and highly regarded. These sizable pearls work well instrands and statement pieces.

Tahitian

Often called black pearls, Tahitian pearls grow in the warm,turquoise lagoons of French Polynesia and other islands in theSouth Seas. Colors range from gray to black, shimmering withpeacock green, gray, and purple overtones. Try these darkdevils for an edgier look.

Akoya

Hailing from Japan, the most valued Akoya pearl colors arewhite and white with pink undertones. Best-known of thecultured pearls, their roundness, nacre depth, and consistentluster have positioned them as the preferred choice for atimeless statement.

Freshwater

Though originally produced in Japan, 90% of the world’sfreshwater pearls now come from China.Supply is plentiful, aseach shell can produce up to 100 pearls simultaneously. Whiletypically irregular in color and shape, freshwater pearls arethe most affordable and are widely used in sterling silverjewelry because of their availability.

Mabé

Japanese Mabé pearls grow in saltwater mussels and someoysters, forming on the inside of the shell, rather than inthe mussel’s tissue. The most desirable color is white withpink undertones, but dark, smoky, and blue colors are moredesirable as ever. These cultured pearls with domedhemispheres and an almost flat back are great for brooches andpendants.

What do I look for whenbuying pearls?Similar to the 4 C’s of diamond buying, familiarize yourcustomers with the Five Virtues related to pearl purchases.

LusterFor cultured pearl experts, luster is most importantwhen determining pearl quality. Luster derives from thepearl’s countless layers of pearl nacre, the natural substancethat forms the pearl itself. Luster describes the beauty yousee as light travels through the nacre of the pearl. It is thenacre that causes light to refract from the pearl’s layers,giving each pearl its unique milky appearance.

ComplexionSurface complexion refers to the physical blemishes or markson the pearl’s surface. When evaluating complexion, the tradeuses terms such as blemish, spotting, and cleanliness. Sincecultured pearls are grown by live oysters in a naturalenvironment, there are many uncontrollable forces that affecttheir surface.

ColorThe desirability of different pearl colors rests in the eye ofthe beholder. The most popular color is white or white withslight overtones. Pearls that are naturally colored, ratherthan color enhanced by artificial means, will add value to thepearl.

ShapeClassic shapes range in descending order of value from roundto near-round, and from oval to drop. It’s important tounderstand that in pearl industry terms, the shapes from roundto drop are pretty symmetrical, while anything baroque denotesa pearl that is completely asymmetrical or freeform.

SizeCultured pearls are measured by their diameter in millimeters.They can be smaller than one millimeter in the case of tinyseed pearls or as large as twenty millimeters for a matureSouth Sea pearl. Generally speaking, the larger the pearl, themore valuable it will be.

How do I care for my pearls?

Daily CareAs an organic gem, pearls are vulnerable to chemicals found incosmetics, hair spray, and perfume. To preserve the luster ofyour pearls, always put on your jewelry after applying make-upand styling products. Pearls can be harmed by perspiration,too. Before placing your pearls back in the jewelry box, wipethem gently with a soft cloth.

For CleaningNever use an ultrasonic cleaner on your pearls — it can damagetheir nacre. Occasionally wipe your pearls gently with a clothdipped in mild, soapy water. Then, rinse the cloth with freshwater and wipe the pearls clean. Dry them with a soft cloth.If pearls come into contact with an acidic substance likefruit juice, vinegar, or other chemicals, immediately wipethem clean with a soft cloth. Be careful not to submerge yourpearls in water as this will weaken the silk thread.

StorageContact with other jewelry may scratch pearls. Avoid tanglesby fastening clasps, then lay each jewelry piece in a separatecompartment of your jewelry box. When traveling, use aprotective jewelry pouch or wrap each item in a soft cloth.Pearls can dehydrate when stored too long, so enjoy themfrequently.

Are pearls safe for daily

wear?Frequent wear rehydrates pearls and helps to maintain analmost otherworldly luminescence. What do pearls have to do tostay beautiful? They need to be worn often. If stored in ahot, airless environment, they can dry and crack. Pearls needoil from the skin to enhance their luster and color. Also,from time to time, check the clasps or screws holding yourjewelry together. With frequent wear, even the best-kept pearlstrands may loosen and will require restringing.

Aren’t pearls too traditionalfor modern women?In recent years, there’s been a resurgence, culturally, amongthe younger generation longing for a style reminiscent of amore elegant time. Think about the gilded ’40s or the classicAmerican style of Jacqueline Kennedy in the ’60s. Ineverything from architecture to fashion, we are seeinginfluences from these time periods today. Pearls have alwaysmade a statement about class and sophistication, finding theirway into almost every woman’s wardrobe. Further, culturedpearls are affordable and dynamic accessories perfect fordonning on a romantic night out, while casual enough to wearwith jeans and your favorite blouse.

Download and print this handy pearlbuying guide

We hope we’ve fully answered the top five pearl buying FAQs

you may encounter when selling pearls to your customers. Whatother sorts of questions do you receive about pearls? Let usknow in the comments below!