Lustre refers to the deep, luminous glow in a pearl that is visible to the human eye. It is the result of light reflecting both from the surface of the pearl and from light refracting within the layers of nacre. The quality and thickness of the nacre will determine a pearls brilliance and how iridescent a pearls lustre will be. Lustre is considered the single most distinguishing feature of pearls over all other gems.

Pearls come in an array of shapes and as a natural product, each pearl is unique. The most sought after and highly valued pearls are those that are perfectly spherical or round, only a very small percentage of cultured pearls are this shape. A good way to tell if a pearl is perfectly round is by the way it rolls when placed on a flat and level surface, if it veers to one side, it is not round.

There are six basic shapes defined at production. Shapes include:

Round – A perfectly round sphere. A pearl is considered round when the variation in its diameter is less than 2.5%. For example, a pearl measuring 10mm can have up to 0.25mm variance.

Near round – Very slightly imperfect shape, although the pearl may look perfectly spherical to the human eye, a pearl is considered near round when the variation in its diameter is more than 2.5%.

Drop – A drop shaped pearl will always have a longer vertical axis than horizontal axis. Pearls that fall within this category are those in the shape of a teardrop, oval or egg shape.

Button – Opposite to drop shaped pearls, the vertical axis of a button pearl will always be shorter than its horizontal axis.

Baroque – A baroque pearl is considered asymmetrical or free formed and are extremely unique. When one side of a baroque pearl is round or symmetrical it is considered semi-baroque.

Circle – A pearl is classified as a circle pearl when parallel grooves, bands or rings are present around the circumference of the pearl.

Pearls are remarkably durable and can maintain their exquisite lustre for many generations, however it is very important to remember that pearls are an organic gem that require and will respond with special care.

Before you put your pearls on, ideally, any makeup and hair products should already be applied. Pearls are porous, therefore contact with perfume, sunscreens, moisturisers and deodorants should be avoided as it can, overtime, dull their lustre and cause marks and spots. Also avoid spraying any perfume where you intend to wear your pearls.

Store your pearls away from other jewellery items to avoid being scratched or marked. It is also recommended not to store your pearls in coloured boxes for long periods as they can absorb die colour.

The best way to care for your pearls is to wear them often as the body’s natural oils tend to keep them lustrous, however always avoid playing sports as perspiration can dull lustre on the pearl. Also avoid swimming, showering, or any contact with chlorinated water while wearing your pearls.

If worn often, wipe your pearls with a soft damp cloth, there is no need for commercial, ultrasonic or steam cleaning solutions, your pearls will react naturally to a chemical-free clean. It is recommended to have your pearl strands re-threaded often to avoid broken threads as over time and when worn often, the thread can become frail.

Pearls come in an array of shapes and as a natural product, each pearl is unique.

The most sought after and highly valued pearls are those that are perfectly spherical or round. Only a very small percentage of cultured pearls are this shape.

The common shapes referred to are:

Round, Near Round, Drop, Button, Baroque and Circle

Pearls are the only gemstone to be produced by a natural process, inside an oyster under the sea and therefore are individually unique and extraordinarily beautiful.

Mabe pearls grow on the inside of the silver and black lipped oysters found in the waters of Australia and the South Pacific. A half piece nucleus is implanted against the inside of the oyster shell. Nacre is secreted over the bead and a blister pearl is formed. Typically Mabe pearls are half round or dome shaped, but can also be tear drop or heart shaped.

Most Akoya pearls are produced in natural radiant shades of white to ivory with pink, green or silver overtones. The Japanese Akoya pearls usually have a rich pink overtone and can cost up to four times the price of Chinese Akoya pearls. A thick nacre gives them a truly deep lustre.

The Akoya pearls are also never naturally black as these would have undergone a radiation treatment or have been dyed.

The longer the pearl is in the oyster, the thicker the nacre or outer covering of the pearl and potentially the more luminous and rich the lustre. Nacre is the one factor that determines the longevity of a pearl. This is why nacre thickness can be considered the most important factor when considering the quality of a pearl. Quality of the nacre is the one factor you can see clearly with your eye.

A pearls colour is determined by the species of the oyster it grows in. The environment in which they are grown can also determine the colour and skin texture.

South Sea Pearls are produced in shades of White, Ivory, Silver and Blue with brilliant iridescent overtones of Pinks and Greens. A natural gold range of pearls with shades of Cream, Yellow, Champagne and Gold are also produced.

Tahitian Pearls occur naturally in a remarkable range of colours from Aubergine, Peacock, Green, Grey, Blue through to a deep Black all with various overtones.