Pearls below 7mm in size are considered to be on the smaller side, while 7-8mm and 8-9mm are among the more popular sizes selected for necklaces in Freshwater pearls. Anything sized from 9-10mm and above is considered to be above average in size, and such pearls are more rare and valuable.
7.0 to 7.5 mm freshwater pearls are the size of a baby aspirin and are the pearls that are typically used for single strand necklaces commonly seen in graduation and sorority photos.
The most popular and common sizes are 6.0 – 6.5 mm up through 9.0 – 9.5 mm. Other items that can be used to help visualize pearl sizes are a #2 pencil, which is 4.25 mm in diameter, so a 6.0 – 6.5 mm pearl will be slightly larger than a pencil eraser.
The most popular and common sizes you'll find today range from 6.0-6.5mm through 9.0-9.5mm pearls. Cultured Freshwater pearls come in sizes that start as small as 4.0mm and range up to 12.0mm and lately, larger! The most common and popular Freshwater pearl sizes found today range from 6.0-7.0mm up through 10.0-11.0mm.
Pearls in the 5.5 – 6.5 mm range are worn by young women between the ages of five and 16. 7.0 – 7.5 mm pearls are worn by women who are 30 and above. Pearls in the 8.0 – 8.5 category are traditionally worn by women age 35 and above.
As the ideal—not too big and not too small pearls—they are usually considered a safe size when gifting for any woman. 8-9mm Pearl Earrings: Easily our second most popular pearl earring size range, the 8.0-9.0mm pearls are for ladies wanting one step up from "normal".
The smallest pearls are called seed pearls, which can be as tiny as 1 millimetre in diameter, whilst the largest pearls commercially available can reach 2 centimetre in diameter and are produced in large South Sea oysters.
8-16mm white round pearl. 1/4-5/8" in diameter.
In general, larger pearls work well on rings. Anything 10.5mm and above will be a statement piece. You may also want to consider the size of your hand, as a too-small pearl can make a large hand look even larger, and a too-large pearl can make a petite hand look childlike.
10 - 11 mm pearls are the size of a Tylenol tablet and a common size for a freshwater pearl necklace as a single or multi strand necklace, often combined with gems creating a statement necklace. Pearl necklaces at this size priced ~ $2K and under are typically freshwater pearls.
Pearl Size
The larger the pearl the more valuable. Pearls are measured by their diameter in millimeters. Tiny seed pearls can be smaller than a single millimeter, while South Sea pearls as large as 20 mm have been found. If all other quality factors are equal, the size of a pearl will determine its value.
The Pearl Girls Medium Pearls are what we consider to be the classic size of pearls. This 7mm size is the size every woman needs to own and makes for a great look in earrings, necklaces and bracelets.
Generally the most popular sizes are within the 7.0-9.5mm range, which are considered the most traditional and versatile pearl sizes to buy. The larger the pearls get (all other attributes like Luster, Shape, and Surface Quality being equal), the more valuable they are.
Most women feel comfortable wearing a pearl bracelet that is around 18.5cm in size, which is the standard size. The pearl bracelet will hang between your hand and wrist bone, which is the most attractive position.
Historians believe Vermeer painted the small piece (17.52 × 15.35 inches [44.5 × 39 cm]) around 1665, during the period in which he executed a group of paintings with a shared pearl motif.
Tahitian pearls range from moderate to large pearl sizes, and are considered one of the largest pearl types. Averages range from 8mm up through 16mm and even larger. The most common and popular size range is around 9-12mm.
It's a nice in between size that can be worn daily and doesn't appear too Big or too Gaudy. A 5mm Pearl is pretty much the same size as the top of a Push Pin. 6mm is usually the size of a Large Paperclip.
Pearl Nacre Quality and Thickness
Pearl types such as Tahitians and South Sea pearls have extremely thick nacre, often averaging between 2-4mm thick around the bead nucleus inside.
Pearls are measured in millimetres through their round diameter - perpendicular to the axis of the drill hole. For example, this 9mm oval pearl is measured along the line of the arrow. Pearls are described in sizes like 5mm-5.5mm or 8mm-9mm. The pearls on the strand should fall on or between these measurements.
That is why South Sea pearls are considered the most expensive variety of pearls in the market. However, size alone does not determine the value of the pearl. If an Akoya pearl the size of a small South sea pearl is valued, it will command a higher price because of its rarity.
Size: When other value factors are equal, larger pearls are rarer and more valuable than smaller pearls of the same type. Shape: Round is the most difficult shape to culture, making it the rarest cultured pearl shape and—if all other factors are equal—also generally the most valuable.
Freshwater pearls are cheaper because they are easier to extract, making sea pearls more valued. Why? Sea pearls are larger, more beautiful in shape, luster, smoother surface and, of course, much more expensive than freshwater pearls.