--- title: "Pearl Quality Self-Check" description: "Check a pearl yourself against GIA's value factors, from luster and surface to nacre, shape and matching, and read what GIA says about what you see." canonical_url: "https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/pearl-quality-self-check/" last_updated: "2026-11-04" last_reviewed: "2026-10-26" reviewed_by: "Simon" publisher: "Unique Pearl" publisher_disclosure: "Learn About Pearls is published by Unique Pearl, a pearl jeweler." --- # Pearl Quality Self-Check Looking closely at a pearl tells you a good deal about its quality. Answer the questions below about what you see, and the notes narrow to what GIA says about each answer. The self-check isn’t a grade: GIA’s gemologists classify pearls under controlled lighting, against master sets of pearls. [1] ## Check your pearl The notes below come from GIA’s descriptions of pearl quality. ### Luster - Of the seven pearl [value factors](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#value-factors), GIA says [luster](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#luster) might be the most important, and within a type, when the other factors are equal, the higher the luster, the more valuable the pearl. [2] - Bright, sharp reflections match GIA's top luster grade, Excellent. [2] - Bright reflections that are nearly sharp match GIA's grade Very Good. [2] - Bright reflections that aren't sharp, and are slightly hazy around the edges, match GIA's grade Good. [2] - Weak, blurred reflections match GIA's grade Fair. [2] - Dim, diffused reflections match GIA's lowest grade, Poor. [2] ### Surface - GIA notes that most pearls never achieve perfection. Blemishes include abrasions that look like scratches, a flattened section that leaves the shape intact, and a ridge like a crease or wrinkle. [2] - Blemishes matter less to beauty and value when they are few, or minor enough to be hidden by a drill hole or mounting. [2] - Numerous or severe blemishes can affect the durability of a pearl and severely depress its value. [2] ### Nacre - If the bead shows under the [nacre](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#nacre), or the pearl looks dull and chalky, you can assume the nacre is thin, which affects both its luster and its durability. [2] - Good nacre quality often results in attractive luster. [2] ### Shape - GIA lists eight basic shapes, round, semi-round, button, drop, pear, oval, [baroque](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#baroque) and circled, and says perfectly spherical pearls and symmetrical drops are valued most. [3] - GIA calls round the most difficult shape to culture, which makes it the rarest [cultured pearl](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#cultured-pearl) shape and, all else being equal, generally the most valuable. [2] - Well-formed pear, oval and baroque cultured pearls are prized too. [2] ### Matching - For most strands, earrings and other jewelry with several pearls, the pearls should match in all the quality factors. [2] - Jewelry designers sometimes mix colors, shapes and sizes on purpose for unique effects. [2] ### Color and size - [Bodycolor](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#body-color) is a pearl's dominant overall color, [overtone](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#overtone) is one or more translucent colors lying over it, and [orient](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#orient) is a shimmer of iridescent rainbow colors on or just below the surface. All pearls have bodycolor, but only some show overtone, orient or both. [2] - When the other factors are equal, larger pearls are rarer and more valuable than smaller pearls of the same type. A pearl is measured across, in millimeters. [2, 4] ### For a professional opinion - GIA's gemologists judge color, luster, surface and matching under controlled lighting, against sets of master pearls. [1] - A GIA [report](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#laboratory-report) states whether pearls are natural or cultured, the water they grew in, the [mollusk](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#mollusk) when it can be determined and any detectable treatments, and grades them on GIA's seven value factors. [5] ## How to look Look at the pearl in good light, and at the reflection of a light in its surface: GIA’s luster grades describe how bright and how sharp that reflection is. [2] For size, measure the pearl across in millimeters, [4] and the [pearl size visualizer](https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/pearl-size-visualizer/) shows how that size compares with each type’s typical range. ## Grades from sellers Letter grades such as [AAA](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#aaa-grade) aren’t a standard: GIA’s journal describes the trade’s grading systems as competing, often company-specific methods. [6] The page [AAA pearl grades](https://learnaboutpearls.com/grading/aaa-pearl-grades/) explains how to read one, and the [quality](https://learnaboutpearls.com/quality/) section covers each value factor in depth. ## References 1. Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Analysis & Grading. How GIA Identifies and Classifies Pearls. [Source](https://www.gia.edu/gem-lab-how-gia-identifies-classifies-pearls) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20260606232640/https://www.gia.edu/gem-lab-how-gia-identifies-classifies-pearls) 2. Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Gem Encyclopedia. Pearl Quality Factors. [Source](https://www.gia.edu/pearl-quality-factor) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261016075647/https://www.gia.edu/pearl-quality-factor) 3. Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Gem Encyclopedia. Pearl Buyer's Guide. [Source](https://www.gia.edu/pearl/buyers-guide) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20260613185853/https://www.gia.edu/pearl/buyers-guide) 4. CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation, Pearl Commission (2026). The CIBJO Pearl Book (Pearl Blue Book) 2026. [Source](https://cibjo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Pearl-Blue-Book-2026-.pdf) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261025235254/https://cibjo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Pearl-Blue-Book-2026-.pdf) 5. Phoebe Shang (2026). Freshwater Akoyas – A Trending Misnomer for Certain Freshwater Pearls. [Source](https://www.gia.edu/freshwater-akoyas-a-trending-misnomer-for-certain-pearls) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20260617073835/https://www.gia.edu/freshwater-akoyas-a-trending-misnomer-for-certain-pearls) 6. Joyce Wing Yan Ho and Sally Chan Shih (2021). Pearl Classification: The GIA 7 Pearl Value Factors. [Source](https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/summer-2021-pearl-classification-the-gia-7-pearl-value-factors) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20260211121639/https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/summer-2021-pearl-classification-the-gia-7-pearl-value-factors) **Written by:** Learn About Pearls editors **Fact-checked:** Learn About Pearls editors, October 26, 2026 **Reviewed by:** Simon, October 26, 2026 **First published:** November 4, 2026 **Publisher:** [Unique Pearl](https://learnaboutpearls.com/about/), a pearl jeweler **Revision history** 1. November 4, 2026: First published. First published **How to cite this page** **APA:** Learn About Pearls editors. (2026). _Pearl Quality Self-Check_. Learn About Pearls. https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/pearl-quality-self-check/ **MLA:** “Pearl Quality Self-Check.” _Learn About Pearls_, Unique Pearl, November 4, 2026, learnaboutpearls.com/tools/pearl-quality-self-check/. **Chicago:** Learn About Pearls editors. “Pearl Quality Self-Check.” Learn About Pearls. Unique Pearl. Last modified November 4, 2026. https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/pearl-quality-self-check/. **BibTeX:** `@misc{lap-tools-pearl-quality-self-check, title = {Pearl Quality Self-Check}, author = {{Learn About Pearls editors}}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {\url{https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/pearl-quality-self-check/}}, note = {Learn About Pearls, published by Unique Pearl}}` Quoting with attribution and a link is welcome. See [how to cite and reuse](https://learnaboutpearls.com/cite/). **Suggest a correction** ## Related pages - [Quality](https://learnaboutpearls.com/quality/): The seven value factors for pearls, size, shape, color, luster, surface, nacre and matching, and what each one means. - [Grading](https://learnaboutpearls.com/grading/): Why there is no single pearl grading system, and how labs, governments and the trade grade pearls. - [Are my pearls real?](https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/are-my-pearls-real/): Simple checks that can point to an imitation, and what only a lab can settle.