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Quality - Pearl Value Factor
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“A spotless pearl is extremely rare and valuable” GIA
Since pearls are made by a living organism and not a machine, it is not surprising that pearls may show surface irregularities to some degree.
The Gemological Institute of America Pearl Description System divides surface irregularities into four classifications:
• Clean – Blemish free or very minute surface characteristics
• Lightly blemished – Minor irregularities
• Moderately blemished – Noticeable surface characteristics
• Heavily blemished – Obvious surface irregularities
Most people can appreciate a few surface blemishes in an otherwise beautiful pearl.
Depending on the level or amount, blemishes can affect the value of pearls. A small blemish near to the drilled hole may not be very noticeable, and will mean less to the value of the pearl. Whereas numerous and more obvious defects will take away value from the pearl.
As in all the other Value Factors, they all come together to create or take away value of a pearl. If a pearl is large and highly lustrous, a blemish may be meaningless. All the other Value Factors determine whether or not a surface quality means much.
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