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7 Things to Keep in Mind When Shopping Pearls

Published on Jul 07, 2020

7 Things to Keep in Mind When Shopping Pearls

Formed in the spectral depths of the waters inside the brittle shells of an organism as simple as a Mollusk, pearls have had a long time affair with humans since time immemorable. Legends say that the most beautiful Cleopatra was obsessed with pearls, to an extent that she crushed a pearl and drank it just to prove a point. In south-east Asian civilizations like India, a Pearl is regarded as one of the most prestigious and precious astrological gemstones and one of the highly regarded nine gemstones that make up the holy ‘Navratna’. In the present time, however, the demand for pearls is only increasing. The astonishing jewelry made with pearls would make you want to rethink your entire wardrobe! At GemPundit, you can find a wide and elegant collection of Pearl Jewelry in options such as rings, pendants, and bracelets.

When purchasing pearls, there are a couple of things that you should keep in mind to ensure that you get the most of your money. We at GemPundit have compiled a buying guide for our valued customers consisting of seven things you need to consider when buying pearls.

1. The Type of the Pearl

Primarily, there are two major types of pearls, the Natural Pearl is the pearl that is naturally formed in the mollusk, and Cultured Pearl is the pearl that is formed naturally but initiated due to human intervention. Out of the two, natural pearls are considered much more valuable than cultured pearls even though they are inherently formed in the same process inside a mollusk.

2. The Origin of the Pearl

When the origin is considered, the most popular variety would be the immensely rare Basra Pearl that has the highest prices, followed by other popular varieties such as the South Sea Pearls, Tahitian Pearls, and Freshwater Pearls. Freshwater pearls come in different attractive shapes and are easily available, making them the most economical option among the other varieties. Keshi Pearls, that are obtained as a by-product of pearl harvesting are also considered economical options when buying pearl or pearl jewelry. However, if you wish to purchase pearls for its astrological significance, we advise you to not go for Freshwater or Keshi pearls as these do not possess any astrological value.

3. The Shape of the Pearl

Since pearls are formed naturally, it is rather difficult to find a smooth and round pearl. But as a rule, the rounder the pearl is, the higher would be its price. However, this rule does not stand true for exotic and rare varieties such as the Basra pearl, which are sold at high prices regardless of its shape. But for the usual natural or cultured pearls, the rounder the shape is, the more valuable it becomes. Baroque and Keshi pearls would be economically the better choice due to their easy availability and irregular shapes.

4. The Luster of the Pearl

The luster of the pearl refers to its overall brilliance as well as the quality of its surface. Pearls generally have imperfections on its surface. Such minuscule imperfections generally do not affect the prices as such, but the lesser is the imperfections, the more valuable the pearl becomes. Due to this, brilliant and lustrous pearls are priced much higher than dull and milky pearls.

5. The Color of the Pearl

To date, the lustrous white-colored pearls are regarded as the most valuable. These bright pearls attract the highest prices in the market as well. However, exotic colored gemstones such as the golden South Sea Pearls, or the Black Pearls of Tahiti are also considered valuable due to their vivid color options as well as glamorous appearance. Pearls exhibiting a yellowish or greenish tint are generally not considered valuable and are priced much lower than white, South Sea, or Tahitian pearls.

6. The Carat Weight of the Pearl

The formation of a real pearl stone takes an exuberant amount of time, be it a natural or a cultured pearl. Therefore, it is rather rare to come across a pearl that is much bigger than the size usually found in the trade. Even when bigger pearls are found, their overall quality and appearance are not always up to par with the standards. However, size does play a significant role in the pricing of the pearl. Large-sized pearls still grab a high amount in the market due to the longer time taken in their formation, making it more valuable than smaller sized pearls.

7. The Treatment of the Pearl

Like most precious gemstones, Pearls are prone to exploitation for an upper hand in the trade. They are chemically treated, bleached, and coated to enhance its color, appearance, and overall quality to dupe customers into purchasing. Such specimens are generally used to make imitation jewelry or fashion accessories and bear no astrological value to them. They are evidently inexpensive and considered way less valuable than an actual Pearl. We advise you to request for a lab-certificate when purchasing a pearl to ensure that they are not treated. These labs perform rigorous tests on these pearls to derive their quality and authenticity. You could also consult a gemstone lab to find out if your pearl is authentic.

We at GemPundit are proud to have a wide and luxurious collection of the finest quality natural and cultured pearls, verified and certified to be authentic by top gemstone laboratories such as Shri Zaveri Mahajan and ITLGJ. We also provide a free lab certificate to ensure customers of the quality and authenticity of our pearls. If you are looking for pearls, GemPundit is your one-time stop for all your pearl needs.

Also Read: Properties of Pearl Stoneand All about pearls

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