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Beautiful Chocolate Shell Pearl Pierced Earrings. Gold plated metal lever back style. Excellent new Condition. Purchase includes a nice gift box or pouch Perfect for gift giving.

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Pearl Info: The first step is to identify the type of pearl-freshwater, Akoya, or South Sea, the three main pearl types used in jewelry. Each type of pearl is produced by a different species of oyster, and each oyster lives in a different region of the world under very specific climatic conditions.

Pearl luster: It describes the shininess in a pearl and is a combination of surface brilliance and inner glow. A very good luster means it has higher pearl value.

Pearl Nacre : The iridescent internal layer of a mollusk shell. It is a natural substance oyster secretes to protect its sensitive flesh. The thin nacre is very prone to peeling and chipping whereas thicker layer commands more value because of its greater luster depth.

Pearl Surface : If outer surface is very clean and have very few blemishes such pearls carry higher value. Higher quality of pearls have mirror like finish and without any or few blemishes on its surface.

Pearl Size : Pearls are commonly measured in millimeters (mm) in their diameter. Large size pearls carry higher prices. Even 1 mm makes the difference. The average most sold pearls today are between 6.5mm and 7.5mm and are preferred choice of many young women. Depending upon age, taste, status and styles many go for higher sizes as well.

Pearl Color: Surface color or body color. Most irradiated or dyed pearls have surface colors. The natural pearl colors are white, black, champagne, green, gray, aqua and gold. Again within each category there are common overtones. White with rose overtones look great especially on fair skin and the cream or the golden overtones look fabulous on darker complexions. Most important is woman's taste and preference.

Pearl Shape : The perfect round shape always have high pearl values but near round or off round are very much common, great in demand and sold everyday. Pearl necklaces are not restricted to round shape pearls only and other shapes like tear drop, pear, potato, coin and irregular baroque shape pearls are equally popular among women and commonly used by jewelers and designers alike.

The AAA - A System This system grades pearls on a scale from AAA to A, with AAA - or commonly known as gem-quality - being the highest grade:

• AAA: The highest-quality pearl, virtually flawless. The surface will have a very high luster, and at least 95% of the surface will be free from any type of defect. The pearl will be perfectly round, and have a mirror-like luster, and a total nacre thickness (Akoya pearls only) of at least .75mm.

• AA: The surface will have a very high luster, and at least 75% of the surface will be free from any type of defect. The luster will be very high, and have a total nacre thickness (Akoya pearls only) of at least .5mm.

• A: This is the lowest jewelry-grade pearl, with a lower luster and/or more than 25% of the surface showing defects. In many cases, if the pearl is being mounted into a piece of jewelry, it can be mounted so that the defects are hidden -- thus providing a lovely jewelry piece at a lesser price. This quality has a chalky appearance and thin nacre, typically of .25mm or less. This thin nacre is due to early harvesting of the pearl.