·	AAA: This is the highest grade given to virtually flawless and perfectly round pearls having high surface luster and 95% defect-free surface.

·	AA: AA grade is given to highly lustrous pearls with 75% defect-free surface.

·	A: A is the lowest grade and is given to low luster pearls that have defects on more than 25% of their surface.

·	A: A grade pearls have less than 10% imperfect surface and very high luster.

·	B: B grade pearls have high or medium luster and have defects on 30% of its surface area.

·	C: C grade pearls have defected area not more than 60% and medium luster.

·	D: D grade pearls have slight or deep defects on not more than 60% of their surface. Luster is of no importance for this grade as even highly lustrous pearls with defected surface falls under grade D.

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Luster: Good luster is a sign of high-quality pearl. A high-quality pearl glows naturally and reflects light strongly and sharply. High-luster pearls are superior and hence quite costly too. The conditions when a pearl is formed, such as place of cultivation, temperature, pollution, etc. all contribute towards the lustrous quality of a pearl. Examine pearls in daylight to see if they shine from within.

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Shape: Pearls are available in various shapes most common being round and oval. Round natural pearls are expensive as they are very rarely found. Other popular shapes are button (flattened pearls), drop pearls (in the shape of drop), and baroque (irregular shaped pearls). Baroque pearls are comparatively quite affordable.

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Color: Value of pearls is not determined by its color. They are available in a wide range of colors either dyed or natural. Natural colors include pink, silver, gold, black and cream. www.mermaidpearls.com provides you black pearl rings, Tahitian black pearl jewelry, black pearl anklets, white pearl beautiful jewelry, white pearl rings, white pearl anklets, pink pearl anklets, ocean pink pearl bracelets and many more. Browse our entire pearl jewelry collection.

·	Surface: As clear from the pearl grading system discussed above in the article, more the surface defects, less expensive are the pearls. Blemishes and flaws on the surface lower the pearl quality.

·	Size: When all other features of a pearl are similar, then its value and grade is determined by its size. Pearls diameter in millimeters is the standard way to determine its size. A small pearl has 3.5-mm diameter whereas a large pearl size can be 6 or 7 mm diameter.

·	Nacre Thickness: Thick nacre increases the value of the pearl and also makes it strong giving it long life. The luster of a pearl also depends on the thickness of its nacre layer. The thicker the pearl nacre layer, the more valuable the pearl.