THE SHAPE
- Round : Tahitian cultured pearl ne allowing only a maximum of 2% variation in its diameter.
- Semi-Round (Or Oval) : Tahitian cultured pearl spherical with a diameter variation between 2 and 5%.
- Semi-Baroque : Tahitian cultured pearl in the shape of a drop or button. The diameter varies by more than 5% but still presents an axis of symmetry.
- Baroque : Tahitian cultured pearl without a defined shape (irregular) that offers no axis of symmetry and does not fit into the categories mentioned above.
- Circled : Tahitian cultured pearl having one or more concentric circles, which can be found on Oval or Semi-Baroque Pearls
THE SURFACE QUALITY
The surface quality criterion is evaluated according to the combination of three physical parameters: the surface condition, the luster, and the orient. The quality is appreciated with the naked eye.
- The surface condition is evaluated according to different criteria: inclusions, streaks, organic deposits, wrinkles, grooves, depressions, bumps, growths, or milky depigmentation spots.
- The luster corresponds to the more or less perfect reflection of light on the surface of the Tahitian Pearl. It depends on the regularity, thickness, and arrangement of the pearl layers.
- A very beautiful luster corresponds to a total reflection of light, giving a mirror effect. Ae Tahitian Pearl without luster will have a matte appearance.
- The Orient, it, is the color that emanates from the Tahitian Pearl; it is obtained by immersing the pearl inside a white container that does not reflect light on its surface, the Tahitian Pearl thus reveals other colors than those visible at first glance; it is often a sign of an intense new emotion, the holder of the Tahitian Pearl discovering at that moment one or more new shades.
- The surface quality of Tahitian cultured pearls saccording to the Gemmological Institute of America is noted as follows (for the classification of the Tahitian cultured pearl according to Tahiti and French regulations, AAA corresponds to A, AA to B, and A to C, no corresponding D for the GIA, evaluation nuances allowing to compensate for it):
- TOP GEM : Tahitian cultured pearl representing no imperfection and possessing excellent luster
- Category AAA : Pearl of Tahiti presenting at most one imperfection or a group of slight imperfections concentrated on at most 10% of its surface. Excellent luster to Very beautiful luster.
- Category AA : Pearl presenting some slight imperfections concentrated on at most 30% of its surface. Very beautiful luster or beautiful luster.
- Category A : Pearl presenting slight imperfections concentrated on at most 60% of its surface. Beautiful luster.
- (Category D of the Tahiti classification) : Pearls of Tahitian culture having: - either slight imperfections on more than 60% of the surface, without deep imperfections, or slight and deep imperfections concentrated on at most 60% of its surface. without luster or weak.
THE SIZE
It is measured with calipers by the diameter (in the width direction for Semi-Baroques)
They range from 7 mm for the smallest to 22mm... The latter are purely exceptional
The most sold are on average 9/10mm
From 12 mm they are rarer and are the result of a second graft of the carrier nacre
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