Pearl Value Factors

COLOR

Philippine South Sea pearls are produced by gold-lipped Pinctada Maxima oysters and come in warm, natural colors that range from white, crème rose, champagne, and deep, rich gold.
 
Pearl Value Factors - Color

SKIN PURITY

A gem created by nature, the surface of the Philippine South Sea pearl sometimes possesses irregularities on its surface. While having a flawless surface is ideal, these “imperfections” are part of a pearl’s natural characteristics that are used to authenticate them.
 
Pearl Value Factors - Skin Purity

SHAPE

Shape is one of the distinguishing characteristics of pearls. Philippine South Sea pearls come in different shapes including drop, oval, button, baroque, semi-baroque or circled, with round being the rarest.

Keshis are non-nucleated, irregularly shaped pearls that are produced serendipitously during the culturing process in the same oyster with the South Sea pearl.

 
Pearl Value Factors - Shape

LUSTER

A Philippine South Sea pearl possesses a rich luster that is created by a combination of its outer sheen and surface brilliance, which enhances the inner glow of the wearer.

For pearl experts, another more prized quality of the Palawan South Sea pearl is its unique Orient, or the inner glow of the pearl. The Orient is created by a refraction of light as it penetrates through regular layers of aragonite crystals reflected from the core and bounced back to its surface, giving it a fiery rainbow-like effect.

 
Pearl Value Factors - Luster

SIZE

Philippine South Sea pearls are the largest in the world with their diameter ranging from 10mm to 12mm on average and as big as 16mm and up, on very rare occasions.
 
Pearl Value Factors - Size

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