Pearl background continued

A buyer must understand the various criteria determining a pearl’s value. Surface luster heavily influences quality. If you have a 18mm round, green pearl that doesn't shine, you don't have anything to get excited about. Color is a very subjective official criterion for judging quality. To me it's everything, because as a farmer I am always striving for the most perfect, colorful pearls I can produce. Regionally however, it varies wildly. Europe prefers lighter shades as well as silver tones while Asia leans heavily on the darks. America seems to be somewhere in the middle. Shape and size have no bearing on quality. A seven-millimeter baroque could be either an A or even a D, depending on its luster and surface qualities.