How to Buy a Pearl Necklace

Pearl necklaces are classic and fashionable and can be worn by any woman, regardless of age and style preferences. Their high level of versatility means pearl necklaces can be paired with everything from casual outfits to formal wear. The large variety of styles and types of pearl necklaces available means you can have the perfect one for your wardrobe, but this can also make it hard to find the necklace you want.

Buying Pearl Necklaces:

1. Deciding on a price range for your pearl necklace is a great way to narrow down the field and avoid overspending. Few things are available in as wide a price range as pearl necklaces. This is partly because pearls can be very valuable gemstones, while they are also easily duplicated to make lovely imitation pearls. Setting a maximum price for your pearl necklace will help you begin the shopping process.

2. Being informed about pearls and their quality ratings will guide you in making a knowledgeable and valuable purchase. There are two rating systems for pearls. In the AAA-A pearl grading system, AAA is the best, AA is the middle, and A is the lowest grade. The Tahitian system, on the other hand, rates pearls A, B, C and D with A being the highest quality and D being the lowest. Both systems will use the same criteria for pearl grading, with ratings based on luster, blemishes and shape.

• Luster is the glow that the pearl emits, bouncing back to the eye from the coating or nacre.

• Blemishes found on pearls include imperfections such as scratches, small dots, bubbles and wrinkles.

• Shape will depend on the type of pearl that you choose, but typically a perfectly round pearl is the highest grade because these are very rare.

3. The style of pearl necklace you choose will depend largely on your personal taste and the contents of your wardrobe. Pearl necklaces come in many different styles, so you can have one that is just right for your fashion preferences and lifestyle. You will need to consider length, color and pearl size when shopping for a pearl necklace. Pearl necklaces come in several different lengths, from chokers that hug your neck to strands that are long enough to double and triple or wear down to your waist. The most common colors for pearl necklaces are white and cream, but pearls come in many other colors as well. Some of the common colors for pearls other than white and cream are black, brown, pink, bronze, gold, silver and grey. If you are shopping for imitation pearls, however, you can have a pearl necklace in virtually any shade, because manufactured pearls can be made in any color imaginable.

Tip:

1. Imitation pearls do not use the pearl grading systems, as they are typically made from glass or plastic and covered in pearl essence, but you can still check the quality of these pearls before purchasing by considering luster, blemishes and shape.