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It is the trade of pearls between pearl farmers and pearl dealers
that brought forth a standard and definitive pearl grading system
for Black South Sea Pearls. This grading system follows the A Quality,
B Quality, C Quality and D Quality nomenclature. Please note this
system is unlike the Japanese Akoya Cultured Pearl Grading System
of AAA, AA, A+ and A that you might have learned about. Each grading
system is unique to its own species of pearls. "A Quality"
pearls are the most valuable with, D Quality the least valuable.
The four basic qualities can be determined by naked eye inspection
of the pearl's surface perfection and lustre. Please see below the
grading definitions followed by Manea Pearls.
An "A Quality" pearl is one with a high lustre and orient
that has no surface flaws or very slight flaws visible to the naked
eye and confined to less than 10% its surface.
A "B Quality" pearl is one with a high or a medium lustre
and orient that has some flaws visible and distributed over less
than 1/3 of the surface.
We sub-divide "C Quality" pearls into "C+ Quality"
and "C Quality". Given the size of most Tahiti Cultured
Pearls, plus their dark tones and/or color play, "C Quality"
Tahiti Cultured Pearls are still very attractive.
A "C+ Quality" pearl is one with high or medium lustre
and orient that has several visible flaws, distributed over less
than 50% of the pearl surface.
A "C Quality" pearl is one with a high or medium lustre
and orient that has several flaws, distributed over less than 2/3
of the surface.
A "D Quality" pearl is considered low quality and is one
that has a large amount of visible flaws distributed over more than
2/3 of the surface, regardless of the lustre and orient.
A group of pearls such as in a strand necklace may be composed
of pearls of different grades. In this case the pearls will be identified
as A/B, B/C, or A/B/C.
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