Pearl Quality-Glossary
Luster Luster is the quantity and quality of light reflected from the surface of a pearl. High luster pearls also have a deep seated glow. The luster of a good quality pearl should be bright and not dull. You should be able to see your own reflection clearly on the surface of a very high luster pearl. Reflected images of overhead lights are crisp and distinct in higher luster pearls while they are smudgy and washed-out in the dull ones. Higher luster pearls are most valuable.
Body Color
Body color is the basic color of a pearl. The most common body colors are white and cream. White and pink pearl command the highest value.
Shape
Shape is important in judging pearls. The rounder a pearl is, the higher its value. Baroque pearls have irregular, distorted shapes.
Overtone
Overtone(s) are the colors that overlie the body color. Pearls with rose or silver overtones have the highest value.
Blemish
A blemish is a defect found on the surface of the pearl. Minor blemishes include spots,bumps, pits and wrinkles, and can affect a pearl's price.
Major blemishes, which can affect the durability of a pearl as well as its price include cracks,holes and chips.
Circles
Circles are concave, concentric rings found on the surface of a pearl.
Clean
Clean refers to the absence of blemishes on the surface of a pearl.
Color " Body Color " and " Overtone "
Color is a quality factor used to describe the color of a pearl.
Grafting
Grafting is the human insertion of an irritant into a mollusk in order to produce a cultured pearl.
Luster
Luster refers to the combination of surface shine and depth of inner light refraction in a pearl. Luster is one of the main factors of pearl quality.
Mantle Issue
The layer of tissue adhering a mollusk to it's inner shell.
Matching
Matching refers to using luster, surface, shape, color, and size to match several pearls in order to create a piece of pearl jewelry.
Momme
Momme is the weight measurement for pearls in Japan. One momme equals 3.75 grams or 18.7 carats
Nacre
Nacre is the calcium carbonate substance secreted by a mollusk as a defensive measure against a foreign irritant in its body.
Nucleus
Nucleus is a small piece of shell from one mollusk used as an irritant for another mollusk.
Nucleation
Also called grafting or implementation, the process of inserting an irritant (nucleus) into the body of a mollusk so that it will secrete nacre to cover it, consequently producing a cultured pearl.
Shape
A quality factor used to describe the shape of a pearl. A round pearl is the most prized shape in the industry.
Sorting
Separating pearls by surface, shape, color, and size prior to the matching process.
Surface
A quality factor indicating the amount of blemishes on a pearl, ranging from clean to heavily-blemished.
