Pearl grading
Due to the often complex and confusing Pearl grading system surrounding Pearls, Regent Pearls uses the simple terms below.
| Regent Pearls Grading Term | Description |
| Gem | These are the finest South Sea Pearls available and are flawless to the naked eye. They have excellent lustre, perfect complexion and are usually perfectly round or symmetrical. Usually reserved for the elite of the fashion and jewellery world |
| AAA | These are exceptional Pearls with very high to excellent lustre. They will have a flawless complexion, excellent shape and perfect colour. They are very rare and command very high prices |
| AA | These are excellent Pearls with beautiful lustre and very good to excellent complexion. They are highly sought after and very popular |
| A
B,C |
These are outstanding Pearls with very good to excellent lustre and minimal marks.
Regent Pearls only sell Pearls graded A or higher
|
When choosing your South Sea Pearls always consider the following values:
Size
Shape
Colour
Lustre
Complexion
Size
Pearls from the Australian Pinctada Maxima can grow larger than other Pearls due to the perfect growing conditions in the remote Kimberly area.
Pearls as small as 8.5mm are available and known as ‘undersize’ They are often used in rings or clustered with other gems in designer jewellery.
The majority of Australian South Sea Pearls range from 9mm–15mm.
Australian South Sea Pearls from 16mm to over 20mm are rarer, highly sought after and widely regarded.
Size is an important factor when choosing Pearls and personal preference is paramount.
Choosing the correct size of Pearl Earrings can be a difficult task and the photos below may assist you in your choice.
9-10mm
11-12mm
13-14mm
Shape
Pearls are from a living creature and the shapes produced are often varied. As perfectly round Pearls are the rarest and most sought after, they usually command the highest price.
Pearls should be chosen based on personal preference as different shapes appeal to different tastes.
Round Pearls look good in all jewellery, Baroque or Keshi Pearls are chosen for their individuality, drop shaped look great in pendants and button shaped Pearls suit stud earrings.
The choice is entirely yours.
Pearl Shapes (from left to right): Round, Near Round, Oval, Drop, Baroque, Circled and Button
Colour
Australian Pinctada Maxima Pearls are usually white, silver, ivory, gold or champagne in colour with white being the most valuable.
White South Sea Pearls may also have a secondary colour known as ‘overtone’ which gives a unique look to the Pearl. Common overtone colours are pink (rosé) or green.
Pearl Colours (from left to right): White, White / Silver, Champagne, Silver, Black and Gold
Lustre
Perhaps the most important factor when choosing a Pearl is its lustre. Lustre is the natural glow or warmth of the Pearl caused by light reflecting off its nacre.
Similar to a Diamond’s ‘fire’, Pearls are judged by their lustre. A small Pearl with excellent lustre may be more valuable than a large Pearl with poor lustre.
The unique glow of Australian South Sea Pearls is due to its thick nacre, often taking 2 or more years to develop. This thick nacre helps refract and reflect light which makes the Pearl appear to glow from the inside.
Complexion
As Oysters are living creatures, the Pearls that they produce have their own unique surface. Just like a fingerprint, no two Pearls are the same.
The skin and complexion of our Pinctada Pearls are described by the following terms:
Flawless – The Pearl is absolutely clean
Excellent– The Pearl has a full clean face with minimal marks (less than 10% surface marks)
Very Good – The Pearl has minimal marks (less than 20% surface marks)
A crisp, clean reflection on the surface of a genuine Australian South Sea Pearl can also increase its Pearl grading
Regent Pearls Products
Quality – Regent Pearls only sells the finest quality South Sea Pearls graded A or higher.
30 day money back guarantee – If you are unsatisfied with the quality of our products, we will refund you your money. Please see our returns policy for full details
Certificate of Authenticity– Our Pearls and jewellery are supplied with an individual Certificate of Authenticity guaranteeing their quality. The certificate includes the Pearl grading, Size, Quality, Shape, Origin and details of any Jewellery or Diamonds
Free shipping – We provide free shipping Australia wide for products over $250.00 and standard rate DHL Express shipping worldwide
Insurance – Our products are covered by Insurance for delivery to the customer. See delivery for full details
Gift packaging– All of our products come delivered with either crafted wooden presentation gift boxes or felt bags. Our pendants are supplied with a complimentary display chain.
To view our range of Australian South Sea Pearls Click here
To learn more about Pearls, we recommend the GIA Pearl Page
