Looking for elegant, timeless jewelry for yourself? Or searching for a special gift for a special woman in your life?  In either case, pearls are a classic piece of jewelry that every woman loves. 

For those new to pearls, choosing from their wide range can feel a bit daunting. Indeed, they come in so many colors, sizes, types, and shapes to choose from. As one of the most niche and least understood gemstones, pearls can be hard to identify and assess. 

So, if you have questions about investing in fine pearls jewelry that you need answers to, we’ve got you covered. In this blog, we have compiled a detailed guide on how to pick the high quality pearl jewelry. Ready? Let’s get started!

How To Tell If the Pearl Is High-Quality?

The subtle luster and variety of elegant colors can make anyone fall in love with pearls. However, not all pearls hold the same value. So, before you pay hundreds and thousands of dollars for high-quality pearls, consider the following points:

• Real pearls feel cool when you first wear them but then warm up against your skin

• High quality pearls have reflection and natural luster

• Real pearls have slight roughness to them, given the small ridges

Generally, most jewelers use the A-AAA grading scale to determine the quality of pearls. This is a pearl grading system that uses particular percentages for different pearl attributes like luster, color, surface blemishing, shape, and so on.

At Joie DiGiovanni Jewelry, we always choose AAA or AA quality pearls for our customers. Similarly, if someone wants top quality pearls then we have our perfectly round South Sea and Tahitian Pearls available for them. And for those who are looking for more affordable options, we offer other beautiful pieces with AAA freshwater pearls.

5 Ways To Know Your Pearl Jewelry Is Authentic And High Quality

1. Inquire The Origins

There are currently four varieties of pearls available in the market: Akoya pearls, freshwater pearls, Tahitian pearls, and South Sea pearls. The freshwater pearls are the most affordable while saltwater Akoya and black Tahitian are perfect for mid-range to high-range pricing. 

On the other hand, the South Sea pearls are the most expensive. In addition to this, you need to consider if the pearls are natural or cultured. The natural pearls are formed without human intervention, which makes them premium and rare. When understanding where your pearls come from, you can have a better idea of how they should be priced and be able to spot the ones that feel too good to be true.

2. Choose The Color

Pearls are available in a variety of colors, ranging from black to white and everything in between. When purchasing pearl jewelry, it’s essential to differentiate between the overtones and color. For instance, the naturally occurring pearls are white, green, black, golden, pink and aqua, and all these colors have various variations and overtones. For freshwater pearls, the most common pearl color is white, but we also offer variations like dyed grey and natural pink.

Want to try something different? Our Rockstar Collection holds some of the most magnificent Tahitian pearl jewelry, dark and glistening, they add an edgy and mysterious twist to your look.

3. Shape And Surface

Finding perfectly round pearls is hard due to them being very rare. This means that the rounder a pearl is, the more valuable it is. 

On the other hand, baroque pearls don’t have a symmetrical shape and can range from teardrops and ovals to completely asymmetrical shapes. With their interesting and unique shapes, they are a popular choice for those looking to make a statement! 

Some other shapes include;

• Oval – they are extended symmetrically and have a teardrop shape and are perfect for earrings as they complement every face shape

• Button – they look like buttons and appear squashed, and this shape is usually available in freshwater pearls

• Circle – these pearls are a subset of baroque pearls, but they have circles all around the pearl’s diameter. This shape is commonly found in South Sea pearls, Tahitian black pearls, and freshwater pearls

In addition to shape, pearls with a cleaner surface will be more valuable. While purchasing pearls, it’s important to look for the absence of blemishing cracks, spots, and bumps – it is essential to check the cleanliness of the pearls. Remember high-quality pearls have a mirror-like and sharp reflection that shines brighter than other jewelry pieces in the room.  

4. Purpose

Pearl jewelry is versatile and classic, which makes them perfect for special events as well as for the everyday look. Whatever the occasion may be, these shiny gems elevate your style and create an effortless look. Here’s how you can use pearl jewelry for different occasions and purposes:

• Everyday Use – the dainty and small pearl jewelry look perfect for creating an understated look, and they instantly uplift the everyday outfit. See how we add pearl hoops to our everyday outfits to elevate the look instantly.

• Office Use – you can opt for appropriate, sophisticated, and supple pearl earrings that light up the face or add some sparkle to your fingers with our unique open pearl ring.

• Evening Out – Our pearl drop earrings are perfect for evening-out looks. Or make a bold statement by layering different style pearl necklaces!

• Weddings – pearls pair aptly with pink mermaid dresses, champagne dresses, and princess gowns, making them suitable for guests, brides, and bridesmaids. Check out our blog on our favorite pearl jewelry for the mother of the bride.

Need more inspiration? Here’s a guide to styling pearl jewelry to inspire your creativity.

5. Luster

With an extensive variety of pearls, it’s quite evident that all of them will have different luster – which is defined as the measure of quality and quantity of light that is reflected from the surface or under the pearl’s surface. The high-quality pearls have bright and sharp luster, and it will be easier to see your reflection in them. 

On the other hand, if the pearl seems dull, extra white, and chalky, it’s not worth your hard-earned money. If you are wondering how luster differs between different types of pearls, read our blog on the difference between Tahitian pearls and freshwater pearls.

Your Next Step

Ready to discover our collections, carefully designed and handcrafted using the highest quality pearls? Whichever form of pearls you choose, you can rely on Joie DiGiovanni Jewelry to have the most charming and luxurious pearl jewelry ready for every occasion. Explore our pearl collections now.