BLACK TAHITIAN SOUTH SEA CULTURED PEARLS

Tahitian Black South Sea Cultured Pearls
Farmed in French Polynesia

Top Gem
Farmed in French Polynesia
Industry term for top percent of all AAA pearls harvested

Classification

Tahitian Cultured Pearls are classified according to their diameter, lustre, shape, surface purity and color.

Size: 8.0mm up to 16.0mm +

Shape: round, semi-round, button, oval, drop or pear, baroque, circled

Shine: The quantity or quality of light reflected from the pearls surface - this is referred to as lustre or brightness

Surface: surface purity is estimated by quantifying the presence, or absence, of imperfections such as; spots, scratches, stains

Shine + Surface = 5 Grades
Top Gem (GEM), A (AAA), A/B (AA+), B (AA), C (A+), D (A)
*see table below

Shades: Peacock, Eggplant, Cherry, Pistachio, Blue, Grey

See a detailed description of each grade designation in
the table to the right.


FARM GRADE	A-AAA GRADE	GRADE DESCRIPTION

TOP GEM	GEM	Flawless pearl with a sharp lustre and clean surface free of any imperfections

A	AAA	Flawless on 90% or more of the pearl surface with a sharp lustre. Less than 10% of the pearl surface showing slight concentrated imperfections with only one deep inclusion allowed - this would drill or set clean.

A/B	AA+	Flawless on 80% or more of the pearl surface with a high lustre. Less than 20% of the pearl surface showing slight concentrated imperfections with only one or two deep inclusion allowed - this would drill or set nearly clean.

B	AA	Flawless on 70% or more of the pearl surface with a high lustre. Less than 30% of the pearl surface showing slight concentrated imperfections with only one or two deep inclusion allowed - this would drill or set nearly clean.

C	A+	Flawless on 40% or more of the pearl surface with a medium lustre. Less than 60% of the pearl surface showing slight concentrated imperfections with less than 10% of the surface showing deep inclusions.

D	A	Flawless on 40% or more of the pearl surface with a poor lustre. Less than 60% of the pearl surface showing slight concentrated imperfections with less than 20% of the surface showing deep inclusions.