Freshwater Pearl Grading

Probably the single most important thing to understand when learning about pearl grading in order to make an educated purchase decision is this.

Freshwater pearl grading. Today i m here to talk to you about the difference between aa aaa and gem grade freshwater pearls so before we start let me preface this the same way i do anytime we talk about pearl grading and that is to say there is no standard pearl grading system within the pearl industry. When grading freshwater pearls the surface quality shape and. Freshwater pearl grading video transcript. Pearl grading depends on the type of pearl being judged.

This is a special designation for pearls that have passed the pearl science laboratory of japans rigorous tests and must be accompanied by the original certificate. It is impossible to compare grades and grading systems from one company to another. Cultured freshwater pearls are graded using a pearl grading system using the following categories. Most retailers have their own standards even though they may follow the a aaa or a d grading scale often used for pearls.

Freshwater pearls have no universally accepted grading standard but two grading systems are commonly used. This can make it very difficult to compare pearls across vendors and choose the best one for you. Unlike diamond grading there is no standardized grading system for freshwater pearls. Hanadama pearls are tested for a nacre thickness of at least 0 4mm on each side for a total of 0 8mm total nacre thickness.

These pearl grading factors are used in conjunction with one another but don t necessarily carry the same weight. Every company in the world that grades and sells freshwater pearls is using a. The pearl shape is key solid nacre pearls have no mother of pearl bead nucleus to give the mussel a perfectly round template to form nacre over so the majority of freshwater pearl harvests contain semi baroque and baroque pearls see the image above for an example of the variety of shapes sizes and colors a single mussel can produce. This short guide to a aaa freshwater pearl grading is dealing primarily with the classic near round to round white freshwater pearl which is the most popular of all freshwater pearl varieties available today.

These are not industry accepted grades. Freshwater pearls value indicators. Please note we do not subscribe to superfluous grades such as aaa and aaaa. There is a similar system used for freshwater pearls but there is no hanadama grade for freshwater pearls.