Pearl blemishes

[Hanaleimom]

Hi,
I am new to the forum and have been learning a lot reading the articles and threads here. I love Tahitian pearls and have been looking for a strand for a while now. The last few times I was in Hawaii, I have been looking but could not find one that I like and fit my budget. I recently bought a strand of multicolor online and the color is very nice.

According to what I've read, AAA graded can still have pimples and some blemishes. Does that mean some of the pearls can still be off-round? When I inspect closely, some of the pearls are off-round, but that does not matter that much. However, they have more than just pimples. I guess you would say lines that look like scratches. I can't tell if they are imperfections or actually have been scratched while being threaded, drilled, etc. Maybe I never looked close enough when I've seen other pearl strands at retails stores. I've only seen pimples on most strands I've seen in person, but not lines. Can someone help me? Thank you.

[Valeria101]

This Multicolour?

I cannot say what 'AAA' should look like because there is no generally accepted standard: basically, whatever the sellers says 'AAA' should be, that's what they are responsible for. The label does not mean the same thing in any two random shops anywhere - the only consistent thing... is the habit to call grades as A, AA.. etc. Not the best of worlds, by far.

The lines going around the pearl could be light circles... a growth mark. But that's a wild guess and what you describe could just as well be damage from drilling or what not. There would be no interruption on the nacre surface across a growth 'circle' (that may, or may not go all the way around the pearl, but usually do).



PS: I couldn't find an example of light circles off the bat. I am trying to describe circles in the nacre as the 'circlee' baroques have, just very subtle.

[Hanaleimom]

Hi there,
Thanks for your reply. These pearls are listed as AAA. They looked round in pics. Upon close inspection, some pearls do look a bit off-round. The circles are not the circlee baroque type. I will try to take pics tonight. They are not completely around the sphere of the pearls, just barely 1/4 around the circumference, not more than 5mm in length and they are going around the spheres, not vertical lines. Some are faint single line, some have multiple lines next to each other.

[The Pearl Outlet]

From your description, I'd say these are natural imperfections in the pearls and are often mistaken for scratches.

[Hanaleimom]

I took some pictures and attached them here. Number 1, 2 and 3 are pics of the same pearls showing lines/indentions appearing next to each other. Number 4, 5 are of different pearls. I am more concern with number 1, 2 and 3 since they are multiple lines/indentions. Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you so much.

[Hanaleimom]

Here are number 6 and 7. Thank you.

[pattye]

well, thanks for the great photos! That helps alot. Truly Lovely color on the Tahitians. The lines look like natural imperfections to me. Terry called it without even seeing the photos! I will also be interested in what the true experts have to say.

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[jshepherd]

Good color, but the individual pearls are not AAA on an A-AAA scale. Those show 20-30% blemishing and deep, concentrated blemishing. If all the pearls in the strand are similar I would personally grade it as moderately blemished. But I am assuming that those are the worst pearls in the strand so it may not be quite that bad.

[Hanaleimom]

Good color, but the pearls are not AAA on an A-AAA scale. Those show 20-30% blemishing and deep, concentrated blemishing. If all the pearls in the strand are similar I would personally grade it as moderately blemished. But I am assuming that those are the worst in the strand so it may not be quite that bad.

Hi,
Those are the worst ones. The others are not blemish free but have very small pits here or there. I personally did not feel it is AAA quality as far as blemishing goes. I will call the seller to discuss. Thanks.

[Valeria101]

Even without any independent certification (as if that was a perfect 'system, LOL!), those grades raise expectations, methinks. No wonder you are doubting those pearls!

Hopefully the price matched the pearls better then the label did... If it came to choose one of the quality factors to give up on - I'd rather put up with shape variations and blemishes before giving up color and lustre and end up with a less blemished baroque or with a semi-round strand like this as a result. Not everyone has the same priorities apparently - there are plenty of gummy round pearls being sold too

I am wondering whether those imperfections also imply THIN NACRE?. No rhetorical question here: I am asking because I know there are folks reading this forum who may know.

[jerin]

Valeria,

I think the nacre is good, if you look how deep some of the marks seem to be and still no nucleaus shines through, I think the depth is OK. I like the colour too but it is a pity that so many of the pearls do show these natural imperfections, no scratches IMo, but definitely not AAA-grade. It would be interesting to know what the strand did cost.

Who is the seller?

[Hanaleimom]

You are right, definitely not a AAA strand (if graded A-AAA). But as grading is not universal, I guess they could be AAA to some sellers. But you should have some serious questions for the seller.

I just reread your post and you also commented about the shape - the pearls are slightly oval. This would not necessarily affect the AAA grade, but if the pearls were graded AAA and round, that would be sloppy and lenient grading. If the pearls are oval to the eye, they are semi baroque, not even considered near round. A professional company would not sell them as 'round'.

My opinion... The strand is definitely not a AAA, round strand. Either the seller made a really bad mistake, or they have no real grading standards.

My bad. The description did not say round, just AAA. The pearls did not seem off-round in their picture, so I assumed they were round. When I received it, I was disappointed, eventhough the colors are very nice. I also noticed that the champagne pearls did not have much luster to them like the others, but are slightly larger.

Thank you all.

[Hanaleimom]

I did not expect the strand to be perfect. I have seen some strands with some small pits and that's ok for AAA. I am shipping it back. The shipping and insurance are costly though.

[lisa c]

Cathy, you did such an excellent job photographing these pearls and their blemishes, I think the thread deserves a bump. You do great pics.