Pearls are graded on their sphericity or roundness. The best pearls form as perfect spheres, with a geometric roundness second to none. As the degree of roundness decreases and the pearls become more oval their value decreases. Recent fashion trends have been for the more fancy baroque shape pearls however, these will always attract a lower value than round examples.
A totally smooth surface devoid of any irregularities or imperfections is the most sought after. As with shape, as the degree of irregularities increases so the value of the peal decreases.
Our Freshwater Cultured Pearls are primarily grown today in China and have from a price point of view become very popular in recent years. Cultivated from a freshwater clam rather than an oyster, good round examples can be large in size compared to Akoya type pearls. The bulk of the Chinese production is either off- round to rice grain shapes with baroques also being abundant.
Pearl is one of the birthstones for the month of June
