This is long overdue, and I hope a universal system can be developed soon.

I have developed a grading system with explanations, whereby I grade each factor individually; shape, luster, surface quality and matching. Then, to be fairly consistant with other dealers, I average the grades and give an overall grade.

In using my system in conjuction with our high quality photos, a person can know almost exactly what the pearls will look like.

We jslso designed a pearl grading board using this grading system. One of my suppliers in China built it for me and it was ready when I was there last week. Soon I'll photograph it and have it on my web site.

If anyone is interested, you can see our grading system here:

http://pearlsandjade.zoovy.com/c=tsU...rgradingsystem

Our system is for freshwater pearls. We typically use AAA+ as the highest grade. That leaves us some room so when we find an extraordinarily high quality pearl we can go to AAAA.

We may have found that on this China trip. I brought back a kilo of 11-12mm undrilled and they are almost perfect. I'll be looking at them more closely as I design some strands and earrings prior to having them drilled. Soon I'll photograph them and put them on my web site.

We stopped in California on our way home, and showed the pearls to one of my regular customers there, and she immediately asked me to make her a strand with earrings.

As James Peach, a noted pearl expert, told me, "China has the worst of pearls, and the best of pearls". I belive I have found the best of freshwater pearls with this batch.

Bill