AAA is the highest of the standard loose Akoya pearl grades that is not accompanied by a Certificate. This represents less than 3% of the pearl harvest making this grade of Akoya pearls extremely rare and high in value. AA+ is the 2nd highest standard loose Akoya pearl grade that is not accompanied by a Certificate.
South Sea. South Sea pearls are often referred to as the Rolls Royce of pearls. They are the largest and most valuable pearls grown today, with average sizes ranging from 10 to 15 millimeters. South Sea pearls grow in a large pearl oyster native to Australia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia.
Pearl Surface
Look for an absence of disfiguring spots, bumps or cracks on the surface of a pearl, also known as "cleanliness." Notice that the highest quality pearls have a sharp, mirror-like reflection.
AAAAA is the highest quality of pearl known and is expensive and exclusive, while AAA is the highest quality of non-round shape pearls. The lower grade of AAA pearls is the AA+ quality of the pearl which has a surface having a very high luster and at least 75% of the surface will be free from any type of defect.
Kailis pearls are unlike any other on Earth. Highly sought after, the Australian South Sea pearl is revered as one of the best varieties of pearls in the world. Born from the rare Australian Pinctada Maxima oyster, our Australian South Sea pearls have the thickest nacre and a magnificent lustre, to rival any other.
When compared to other varieties, such as Tahitian and South Sea, Akoya pearls definitely offer good value for money without compromising on beauty. Freshwater pearls lack the deep, beautiful gleam of an Akoya. However, the palette of colors and attractive pricing makes them a great option for many people.
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.
Tiffany does not have it's own grading system (at least one that it publicly acknowledges), but Tiffany strands are generally AA quality on the Mikimoto grading standard and Tiffany prices its strands directly in line with with Mikimoto AA strands (which would be $5,400 for an 18" 7x7. 5mm strand).
Mikimoto Pearls are graded based on luster, color, size, shape, and surface blemishes. The four grading systems are AAA, AA, A+, and A. AAA pearls are exceptional and lustrous; you can see yourself in them. AAA pearls have close to no blemishes.
AA – The surface will have good luster and and 75% of the pearl will be free from blemishes and spots. AAA – The surface will have high luster and 95% of the pearl will be free from spots or blemishes. This and AA pearl will have good nacre. (Nacre is the pearl layers formed in the oyster ).
It's pretty much impossible to tell the difference between a natural and cultured pearl by just looking at its outer appearance. The only way to make absolute certain whether a pearl is natural or not is to perform an x-ray of the internal structure of the pearl.
The lip determines the pearl color. While the white pearls are also priced by jewelers, the gold pearl variety is the most coveted color. The gold South sea pearl's color can range from creamy white to deep gold, and the darker the color, the more expensive it becomes.
A Pearl can double in price from one millimeter size to the next. For example a 12mm Perfect South Sea Pearl may be $1,000 and a 13mm Pearl with exactly the same characteristics might be $2,000 the increase in one mm in size literally makes that much difference.
The most classic and widely preferred pearl color is white. The white pearl is considered a symbol of purity, and is often associated with wedding and graduation celebrations.
Characterized by their flattering pastel colors of pink/peach, white and lavender, cultured freshwater pearls are a fresh and budget-friendly way to own fine pearl jewelry without spending a fortune. Freshwater pearls are a small to mid-sized pearl type, ranging from 5.0mm through 12.0mm or so.
Kate Middleton wears the Annoushka Baroque Pearl Earring Drops. The Princess has worn the pearl drops since 2012.
The Most Popular Size Pearl Necklaces and Earrings
The 7.0-8.0mm size range is widely acknowledged to be the "go-anywhere" size, perfect for nights out, office wear or even a quick trip to the grocery store in a T-shirt and jeans.
Mikimoto Pearls is a brand name of a jeweler that specializes in creating pearl jewelry from Akoya pearls.
If you want natural pearls, then head to Australia, the Persian Gulf or India. If you're after cultured pearls, then China is the place to go – it produces around 90% of all cultured pearls. Japan and South Korea also produce cultured pearls.
It's often assumed that because something's old it must be valuable. That's rarely true and certainly not for pearls. Advances in technology and culturing techniques mean you can buy a much better set of pearls for far less money than in grandma's time.
Together, Tiffany, Mikimoto, and Pure Pearls make up 3 of the best pearl brands when it comes to buying luxury necklaces and other pearl jewelry. Pure may not be a world-famous pearl jewelry brand, but you know what we do have?
If a pearl displays low, soft or chalky luster then the pearl is not nearly as beautiful and is automatically downgraded in value. Hanadama Akoya pearls versus AAA Quality Akoya pearls – the difference in Luster really stands out when comparing these two pearl qualities side-by-side.
Pearls are a Good Investment
Both natural and cultured pearls are fine gems similar to diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. Though pearls do not increase their value the same way as the mentioned gems, pearls can still retain their original value, especially if you care for them.
South Sea pearls are generally much larger than other pearl types and have a unique luster quality – a soft reflection due to the large aragonite platelets that make up the pearl. They also have the thickest average nacre of all cultured pearls. These factors make South Seas both distinctive and valuable.