How to shop for pearls?

Many have said that ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ but we say pearls are a woman’s eternal best friend. When worn right, pearls exude elegance and a hint of decadence without screaming in your face. The subtle allure of its shine and luminescence creates an effortless flair to your dressing.

However, pearls are not an easy feat to shop for. With the help of Mikimoto, we have narrowed down the key details to understanding the profound allure of pearls. Mikimoto are revered for their strict craftsmanship and exquisite eye for detail when putting together a pearl necklace. So if there is anyone that knows a thing or two about pearls, trust us, it’s Mikimoto.

Quality

The first way to judge a pearl is through its quality and there are 4 ways to determine its finesse. A rich luster is the most important element to determine the quality of a pearl, which is a combination of a smooth surface and even nacre layer. Next, consider the thickness of the nacre layer. The thicker the nacre, the higher the quality of the pearl. If a pearl is closer to a true spherical shape, its appeal increases. Nonetheless, many do find non-spherical pearls to be equally attractive. Lastly, ensure there are as few flaws on the pearls as possible.

Type of Pearls

1) Akoya Pearls: Characterized by a delicate hue and luster, these come in colours of pink, silver and cream and are cultured from Japanese Akoya oysters.

2) Silver/Gold Lip Pearls: Cultured from oysters in Australia, Indonesia and Philippines, these pearls are generally large in size and come in spherical and teardrop shapes.

3) Black Lip Pearls: These pearls have a colour ranging from gray to black and those with a good luster and a greenish tinge are rare and valuable pearls.

4) Freshwater Pearls: These come mainly from ‘Triangle’ mussels in lakes and rivers in China and are in a variety of shapes including, round, oval, drop, button, baroque and stick.

5) Conch Pearls : Naturally pink pearls that are harvested from snails known as ‘Queen Conch’ that live in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Conch pearls are often characterized by its ‘flame structure’ pattern that resembles a burning flame.

Style of Necklace

The pearl necklace comes in a variety of lengths with the most popular length being the choker that can be worn for both formal and casual occasions. The matinee length is a favourite in Europe and the United States and is often for daytime wear. For more formal occasions, opt for the opera length, which is almost twice the length of the choker and can be worn doubled as well. The longest of them all is the rope length, which offers up a versatile approach to styling it in whichever way you like – doubled, tripled or even knotted.

So the next time you head out for a round of jewellery shopping, be sure to have this guide handy and you’ll return with a bag of divine pearls ready to be flaunted about town!

Tarandip Kaur