Where to Find the Best Pearls in the World

Pearls are a girls best friend, right? Pearls have been a mark of beauty and wealth for centuries. They come in many shapes and sizes, in natural (wild) or cultured (farmed) form. But before buying a necklace or earrings, it’s important to look at key elements like a pearl’s iridescence, color and blemishes.

Whether you’re an experienced jewelry hunter or a newbie, there’s a few things you should know about types and grade of pearls.

Pearls are graded on a system of A values, based on color, surface and luster. Only Japanese Akoya pearls have the highest higher grade, called Hanadama, which is the top 1% of the harvest.

As someone who wears pearls almost every day, here is a round up of where to find the best pearls in the world!

Black Pearls

Tahitian South Sea & French Polynesia

Black pearls are found exclusively in Tahiti and other French Polynesian islands, and despite the name, are found in hues of peacock green, silver green, charcoal, blue and eggplant, among others. They are harvested from the Pinctada Margaritifera oyster.

The darker the pearl, the more valuable. It’s not uncommon to find black pearls in a variety of shapes, from teardrops to baroque. The pearl is Tahiti’s largest export, at over 55% of annual exports.

Golden & White South Sea Pearls

Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines

South Sea pearls are the top grade pearl on the market. They are harvested from a silver or golden-lipped oyster, on the shorelines of Indonesia, Philippines, and Australia. Black and South Sea Pearls are in the larger category of pearl families, and are found between 8mm to 16mm.

Though extremely rare, some pearls are as large as 20mm!

Akoya Pearls

Japan

Akoya Pearls come exclusively from Japan’s saltwater, harvested from Pinctada Fucata oyster, also known as the Akoya pearl oyster. They are highly prized for their white color and rose overtones. To the untrained eye, they appear similar to freshwater pearls, but tend to be rounder, smoother and more lustrous.

The larger the pearl, the more valuable, and  Akoyas live in calm seas with mild temperatures- perfect for stunning pearls!

Freshwater Pearls

Lakes and Rivers in China or Japan

Freshwater pearls are found in the lakes and rivers of China, and to a lesser degree Japan and the USA. They are harvested from freshwater mussels, and tend to be white and pink in appearance.

Freshwater pearls tend to price much less than Akoya or South Sea Pearls, due to their asymmetry, but they are no less visually spectacular. Sizes tend to range from 5mm to 12mm, in the middle of the two extremes.

Keep a lookout for fake pearls!

While a legitimate product, fake pearls—made of glass, shell or plastic—are sometimes falsely marketed as real ones. It’s very rare to find a pearl larger than 15mm, so if you encounter one, keep your eyes peeled.

Unless they are Black Pearls, pearls only come in hues of white, pink and gray. Any other color indicates it has been falsely treated. Fake pearls also tend to be smooth and warm—real ones are gritty and very cold.

This article was put together in partnership with The Pearl Source, a family business for over 25 years the has transformed into the biggest pearl jewelers in the nation. On their website, you’ll find rare pearls from around the world, and education on grades of pearls.

As a big fan of pearls, and as always, all opinions expressed are my own!

 

Where to Find the Best Pearls in the World is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

from The Blonde Abroad http://ift.tt/1Pfhp38