Can You Tell Me What Pearl "Luster" Is?

 

 

We Answer:

Take a look at the pearls Kevin is holding in his hand above. Notice the detailed reflections in the pearls' surfaces and the brightness of the light sources reflected on the pearls? THAT'S luster!

Now that you know what luster looks like, let's talk about what all this actually means, and how luster as an attribute of pearls actually gets evaluated and graded. 

 

 

Luster is arguably THE MOST important aspect of a pearl’s value, beating out surface quality, symmetry of shape, size and color by a mile. If a pearl doesn't have nice luster, it just isn't going to be worth much. Luster is one of the famous “Value Factors” that jewelers, pearl specialists and appraisers use to grade pearls.

Pearl luster has three components:

• Luster measures the rate of light reflecting off the surface of the pearl.
• Luster measures the sharpness of reflection visible on its surface.
• Luster also measures how well light beams break up through the nacre layers to refract back at the viewer, giving very fine quality pearls a subtle “glowing” aspect.

 

 

Akoya Pearl Luster

Akoya pearl are known around the world as having the highest quality luster of all pearl types. The luster is so sharp, shiny and reflective that Akoya pearls are often described as having “Mirror-sharp” or “Ball-bearing” luster.

Akoya pearl luster can be graded as Excellent, Very High to Excellent, Very High, High, Medium and Poor.

“AAA Quality” Akoya pearls MUST have either "Excellent" or "Very High to Excellent" luster in order to qualify for the grade.

"AA+ Quality”  Akoya pearls should have luster that grades "Very High" or "High to Very High" to qualify.

 

 

Hanadama Pearl Luster

Hanadama Akoya pearls will have the very highest graded luster of all Akoya pearls, which is “Excellent” … and then some! Hanadama pearls truly are the "Ferrari of the Pearl World" ...

For Hanadama Akoya, you can find the luster grade on the certification listed as “Teri-Value” which must be graded as “Very Strong”.

 

 

Freshwater Pearl Luster

Freshwater pearls have long been thought to have the lowest luster of all pearl types, but that certainly doesn’t hold true today. That said, the luster of Freshwater pearls is generally softer and not as “crisp” as that of the Japanese Akoya. This is due to their solid crystal nacre make-up, which makes the pearls very durable. However, this composition slows down light beams reflecting back at the viewer making for a softer, more satin-like sheen overall.

Like Akoya pearls, Freshwater pearl luster can be graded as Excellent, Very High to Excellent, Very High, High, Medium and Poor.

“AAA Quality” Freshwater pearls must meet either "Very High to Excellent" or "Very High" luster in order to qualify for the grade.

"AA+ Quality”  Freshwater pearls should have luster that grades "Very High" or "High" to qualify.

 

 

Tahitian Pearl Luster

Tahitian pearls are cultured pearls spend quite a bit of time in the water acquiring their thick layers of nacre … typically 2 years is the minimum. So it comes as no surprise that Tahitian pearl luster is described as “satiny”. But that doesn’t mean that Tahitian pearl luster can’t be sharp, highly reflective and totally beautiful.

Like other pearl types, Tahitian pearl luster is graded as Excellent, Very High to Excellent, Very High, High, Medium and Poor.

“AAA Quality”Tahitian pearls can have either “Excellent” or “Very High to Excellent” luster.

“AA+ Quality” Tahitian pearls should have luster that grades “Very High to Excellent” or “High to Very High” to qualify.