When shopping for pearl jewelry, the importance of selecting pearls with the best luster possible cannot be underestimated.
But what is luster, anyway? And why is it so important?
To answer the second question first, luster is the #1 factor in pearl price. A higher-luster pearl will always be worth more, because luster catches the eye most (size is also a big factor, but I’ll talk about that in a later post.)
Luster is the amount of reflected light that a pearl gives off. In other words, the more light reflected, the higher the luster.
It’s very easy to see luster – just look for reflections on the pearl surface of your face, your hand, or a light source above the pearl. A high-luster pearl will show a nice, clear reflection, and a light source (like the showcase lights in a jewelry store) will appear bright and tight.
The examples below show three Tahitian Black Pearls with different degrees of luster:
Medium Luster |
High Luster |
Very High Luster |
In fact, a high luster pearl seems to radiate light from within – it is entrancing. Low luster pearls, by contrast, seem dull, their surfaces appearing chalky. It is pearls’ luster that makes them so seductive, magical, intoxicating – and it sets them apart from other gems.
I’ll talk more about the other value factors, including size and surface quality, in future posts.
If you’d like to learn more before you buy your next piece of pearl jewelry, I would encourage you to read Anandia Pearls’ comprehensive Pearl Buying Guide. It’s a free download you can print out and read!
