Pearl Buying Secrets - Pearl Shape
by Lise Lepa, President and CEO, Pearls Only
In this chapterof Pearl Buying Secrets I talk about the shape of the pearl. By now, you already know that different sizes of pearls make a difference in how a pearl looks, but what about the roundness of the pearl. Is round better? Should I get a round pearl, near-round or off-round. What does this all mean?
These are somewhat difficult questions but actually very easy answers. Pearls come in many different shapes. Historically the rounder pearls have been valued more than pearls that are just near round or off-round. A pearl of same size, say 7 to 8mm, that is perfectly round can costs 2 or 3 times what a near-round pearl is.
So, how do you tell?
Is roundness worth it? It's a personal decision. If you like to look and study the pearls up-close and pearls, like to inspect their roundness, then answer is simple.... it is worth it. Otherwise, save money AND get much more pearls for your dollars by choosing a near-round pearl - the difference is hard to spot.
| Of course having said this, different stores will have different descriptions for roundness but usually AA or AAA quality implies that the shape has a little "wobble" in it. AAAA Quality once again for most store implies pearls with no or tinny bit of wobble. Always check the definition of Qualities on the Internet stores to make sure that you know what they mean, as there is no standards for rating pearls. At Pearls Only we use a term near-round to describe those pearls that have a little "wobble" when you roll them and this means AA or AAA quality. |
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But what about off-round? Off-round pearls are magnificent and showcase nature at its best. Their shape is easier to spot and you will likely be able to tell their off-roundness without having to roll them. Off-round sounds awful, doesn't it? Like 2nd grade or less? Not so?
Even though I used roundness as one of the features of quality of the pearls, I actually quite like the off-round pearls.
Visually, there is something very stunning about these pearls.
Man made and mother of pearl sets are perfectly round and our human eye catches this and automatically perceives them as something unnaturally. With off-round, our eyes perceive the natural beauty of the pearl and enhance their look. The best way to tell the difference is to study the pictures on our web site of an A quality necklace and AA quality necklaces.
Don't just quickly look at them, but get your face up close to the screen. Focus on one or two pearls in the A quality set (off-round) and then go to the AA set (near-round) and focus on one or two pearls in the AA set. When you study them this close you will get an idea of the difference in roundness.
If you do this quick little exercise you will never view off-round pearls in the same way - off-round pearls are beautiful and stunning, just in a slightly different way that than round pearls. I own (naturally), all types of sets of pearls and I wear my off-round pearls just as often as I do my round pearls. Off-round pearls look great with smooth non-textured outfits or when you want to add just that slight touch of irregularity to your look! Off-round pearls are nature in its glory!
Tip #1: Near-Round is your best value for pearl shape. For most stores this means AA or AAA quality. Near-round pearls may be difficult to differentiate from round pearls. Since you usually wear (I hope) your pearls, this near-round is your best value. If you want perfection, seek out the AAAA Quality pearls BUT make sure to check what the definition of those qualities are.
Tip #2: Off-round pearls are just as beautiful as near-round or round pearls: they are not worse or better, just different. People tend to value round pearls so off-round pearls are less expensive to buy, but the lower price does not affect how beautiful they look. Don't hesitate to purchase off-round pearls - their irregular shapes are beautiful to look at.
Tip #3: This one point is so important that I am repeating it one more time: there is NO standard for description of off-round, near-round or round; if you are shopping on the internet, be sure to ask what the roundness is and how it relates to the stores quality. You may be surprised what you find out!
In the section I will discuss pearl luster, and how luster affects the pearl the pearl price. Luster is very easy to describe and can make a big difference how your pearls look (regardless of their size or shape)!
I will share with you how luster affects pearl quality. It's an interesting topic and so ever important in pearls.
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Original Content Copyright 2004 by Pearls Only and Lise Lepa. Reproductions without permission is strictly forbidden.
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