Pearls are beautiful in their simplicity, and look great with any outfit. But, buying pearls is not always very simple. If you want to get a good deal on your pearls and make sure you are buying quality, you need to keep the following 5 things in mind while shopping:

Surface quality: A high quality pearl will have the majority of its surface completely smooth with no pits, cracks, dull spots or protrusions. The vast majority of pearls do have these surface imperfections and the amount of them is one of the most influential factors in determining value.

Shine and Iridescence: The best pearls reflect light so strongly that they almost look metallic. This is referred to as “luster”. A dull pearl with poor luster is worth a fraction of a similar pearl with high luster. Another characteristic of pearl that will add to its beauty and value are the iridescent pearly colors that are present. This is called its “orientation”.

Size: Size is the next most important factor in determining the value of a pearl. Pearls range in size generally from about 2 mm to 20 mm. Pearls above 8 mm are considered large and are most commonly found among Tahitian Pearls and South Sea Pearls. A pearl over 8 mm wide is exponentially more valuable than a pearl of 5 mm of similar quality because of the additional years and resources that are required for their cultivation.

Shape: Pearls come in a variety of shapes. The most valuable shapes are round and near round. Perfectly round pearls are rare to find and are thus the most expensive. Pearls also come in tear drops, domes, buttons, circled (with rings around the pearl) and freeform shapes known as “baroque”. The more freeform shapes are usually the least valuable, however can make interesting jewelry when used creatively in a design.

Type: Pearls are classified according to their origins. Basically, there are 3 types of pearls: cultured saltwater pearls, cultured freshwater pearls and natural pearls. Natural pearls are so rare, even most jewelers never see one. Freshwater pearls come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but are generally less expensive than saltwater pearls.