How the Luster of the Pearl Affects its value
The substance that gives a pearl its “pearly” look is called nacre. It is a unique substance only found in pearls and pearl shells. The thickness of the nacre, determined by the maturity of the pearl, is what gives it its luster. Luster is a term used to describe the shinyness of the pearl: how well it reflects light. The pearls with the highest luster look almost metalic.Pearls with poor luster look chalky and dull.
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| Lowest Value: This pearl looks dull. This might be due to its having a thin layer of nacre. A pearl without luster is significantly less valuable than a lustrous pearl. You will never find such a dull pearl in fine jewelry. | Medium Value: This luster is better. It reflects light attractively though it is not extraordinary. A set of pearls like this should cost in the middle to low hundreds depending on size. | High Value: Here is a pearl with excellent luster. You can see how much better it reflects light. A large pearl of this quality can cost around a thousand dollars. | Highest Value: The luster on this pearl is the very best. Shine like this is extremely rare and requires time and resources to cultivate. A large pearl of this quality would cost several thousand dollars. |
