PEARL QUALITY
Five special qualities are used to evaluate pearls.
Colour:
The colour of a pearl is determined by its host shell and the general conditions of its marine environment. The Black Lipped Pearl Oyster produces a myriad of stunning colour including ocean blues, pink rose, peacock greens, platinum & silver. Endless combinations of these colours is possible, giving black pearls their famous reputation.
Lustre:
Lustre is the reflection of light from the surface of a pearl. A pearl comprises of millions of layers of crystalline nacre, a material secreted by the living oyster. Light reflecting on the surface of the pearl & between these layers of crystalline nacre gives pearls their mysterious glow and iridescence.
Size:
Produced by the largest pearl bearing oyster shells of the world, Cook Islands Pearls are famed for their extraordinary sizes. Measured in millimeter increments, they range in size from 8 with rare exceptions reaching 18mm.
Shape:
Pearl shapes are endlessly varied. They include round, near round, drop, button & baroque. Your imagination is the key to creating jewellery pieces as unique as the pearl itself.
Surface:
As befits a product of nature, finding a pearl completely free of surface imperfections is very rare, even the most beautiful and highly valued pearls may have slight imperfections.
Colour:
The colour of a pearl is determined by its host shell and the general conditions of its marine environment. The Black Lipped Pearl Oyster produces a myriad of stunning colour including ocean blues, pink rose, peacock greens, platinum & silver. Endless combinations of these colours is possible, giving black pearls their famous reputation.
Lustre:
Lustre is the reflection of light from the surface of a pearl. A pearl comprises of millions of layers of crystalline nacre, a material secreted by the living oyster. Light reflecting on the surface of the pearl & between these layers of crystalline nacre gives pearls their mysterious glow and iridescence.
Size:
Produced by the largest pearl bearing oyster shells of the world, Cook Islands Pearls are famed for their extraordinary sizes. Measured in millimeter increments, they range in size from 8 with rare exceptions reaching 18mm.
Shape:
Pearl shapes are endlessly varied. They include round, near round, drop, button & baroque. Your imagination is the key to creating jewellery pieces as unique as the pearl itself.
Surface:
As befits a product of nature, finding a pearl completely free of surface imperfections is very rare, even the most beautiful and highly valued pearls may have slight imperfections.