Luster of pearls

Pearl jewelry is famous for its natural beauty and brilliance. Luster is the hallmark of any pearls. Intense and deep shine of pearls are called luster.

This brilliance of pearl is created when light reflects from the layers of nacre. Nacre is the actual substance forming pearls. It is made up of tiny crystals of calcium carbonate crystals. Since luster of pearl is light phenomenon, while judging the pearl luster quality and quantity of light must be taken into account.

The luster of pearls depends upon the quality of nacre. Transparency, smoothness and thickness of each microscopic layers of nacre determine the quality of nacre. While judging luster of pearls, examine the pearls in a flat white surface. Examine pearl directly under light. while examining luster of pearl; look at the light reflections on the pearls, it must be sharp and intense. Contrast edges of brightest and darkest areas of the pearl must be clear.

According to GIA; pearls with excellent luster has bright, distinct and sharp light reflections. Pearls with good luster have bright reflections but they are not sharp and slightly cloudy around the edges. Pearls with weak, cloudy and blurred reflection are said to have fair luster and pearl with poor luster reflect dim and diffused light. Pearl with low or poor luster appears chalky, rather than brilliant and shiny.

The thicker the nacre, the more lustrous is the pearl. The amount of nacre determines the reflective quality of the pearls. it is important to have unblemished pearl surface, because luster is often seen on a smooth surface without ridges that could deflect the light. Pearls with high luster are valued more. Keshi pearls are exception for that, these pearls are completely composed of nacre, they are most lustrous of all other pearls, yet they are very less expensive than other pearls.

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