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How to Judge Natural Pearl Qualities
 Pearls are lustrous symbols of the sea. Each single pearl is uniquely crafted by those denizens of the sea, oysters and clams. As such, each wild pearl found is a beautiful treasure and well worth its weight.
There are five different qualities used to judge a pearl; luster, surface perfection, color, shape and size. Of course, we’re all excited when we see large pearls. They are the most difficult to grow by those little oysters. Pearls measure in millimetres and the larger the better.
In addition, the pearl’s shape is important to consider when buying pearls. There are a surprising number of shapes out there, but perfectly round pearls are the most valuable. Unique shapes like the tear drop and the baroque are also quite valuable because they are so different.
Basic pearl colors like; cream, gray, green blue and pink are not difficult to find. Usually, the most popular colors are white and pink rose as they are the most versatile, looking good against a wide range of skin tones.
Surface perfection while valued in a pearl is difficult to find. Just about all natural pearls will have some form of imperfection or blemish. Besides, this just gives you a way to tell the difference between real pearls and fakes.
Finally, Luster or the amount of light that is reflected from the pearl’s surface, and the kind of inner light or glow that radiates from the pearl itself.
There are lots of ways to tell a real pearl from a fake one. Pearls are very soft so you could actually crush one, but considering their value, I wouldn’t recommend it. Another way to tell if you have a set of real pearls on hand is to take them into the sunlight and examine them. Real pearls are almost never perfectly matched! Each one is unique and as different as the mollusc that made it. However, if you are paying for a very expensive piece, it just might be perfectly matched in color.
You can look to other clues though. As mentioned real pearls have irregularities and may be slightly irregular. You can also examine the drill holes on pearls in a necklace. The drill holes in a real pearl tend to be very, very small, since the weight of the pearl affects its price. Plus, the ‘nacre’ or top layer of luster on fake pearls is more likely to flake away near the drill holes on fakes.
Real pearls are also more likely to have the string knotted between each pearl to protect it in case the necklace breaks. Real pearls are also probably going to be seen in settings with gold, silver or platinum. Also, look at the clasp on the necklace or bracelet. Real pearls are not likely to be in a piece that has a poorly made or weak clasp. 
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