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Pearls are the simplest yet the most elegant accesories you can wear to your wedding. Most pearls on the market today are cultured, meaning that an irritant is purposely introduced into the mollusk so it can create a pearl. While this process doesn’t make the pearl any less genuine, pearl farmers have very little control on the outcome of the pearl. As a result, not all pearls have the fine quality you may be looking for.

When choosing pearls for your wedding, look out for its luster, surface perfection, shape, size, color, and the quality of the nacre (the outer layer). The nacre is very important as its thickness determines its longevity while the quality can be seen in how it reflects the light. When judging a pearl’s nacre, look at its surface for uniform iridescence, cracks, peeling, and intensity of the luster.

The luster of the pearl is its the brightness that shines from within the pearl, as opposed to just merely being shiny like imitation pearls. The brightness is a result of the light’s reflection on the many layers of nacre. High quality pearls have a sharp contrast between the area directly hit by the light and the shaded part, giving the illusion of a small white ball within the pearl.

Also consider the pearl’s shape. Spherical pearls are the rarest and most expensive; next to them are symmetrical pearls, usually tear-drop shaped or pear-shaped. Irregularly-shaped pearls are the least expensive and most common.

When in doubt about the quality of the pearls you’re buying, ask for the appraisal of an independent gemologist. Another thing to consider before buying pearls is to ask the vendor for the return policy; make sure they allow for at least 30 days refund.

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