Assignment 17 -Pearl Value Factors, Processing, and Treatments

Question 1

A procedure that includes cleaning, buffing, and sometimes bleaching, done to make cultured pearls presentable and appealing.

Answer 1

Process

Question 2

Features used to judge the quality and value of pearls.

Answer 2

Value factors

Question 3

What qualities determine the overall value of a pearl?

Answer 3

The seven value factors are:
* Size
* Shape
* Color
* Luster
* Surface Quality
* Nacre Quality
* Matching

Question 4

How does the importance of an individual value factor vary among pearl types?

Answer 4

Each value factor varies in importance for different pearl types (e.g. Color for Thaitian pearls or size for Akoya pearls)

Question 5

What influence does a pearl’s structure have on its quality?

Answer 5

Round is the rarest and most valuable cultured pearl shape.

Question 6

A pearl with one or more grooved or ridged rings all the way around it.

Answer 6

Circled pearl

Question 7

Irregularities confined to a pearl’s surface.

Answer 7

Blemishes

Question 8

Which cultured pearl types require less processing than others?

Answer 8

South Sea and Tahitian pearls less often require bleaching than Akoya or Freshwater pearls.

Question 9

What factors does a cultured pearl sorter have to consider?

Answer 9

First, sorters eliminate pearls that are misshapen, heavily spotted, or that have extremely thin nacre.

Depending on pearl type, cultured pearls of certain desirable colors or color intensities are separated for special handling.

Question 10

What are some common cultured pearl treatments?

Answer 10

• Luster enhancement
• Dyeing
• Tinting
• Irradiation
• Coating
• Filling
• Peeling

Question 11

Cultured pearl with a hole drilled all the way through; sometimes called drilled-through.

Answer 11

Full-drilled

Question 12

Cultured pearl with a hole drilled halfway through to permit mounting on a post.

Answer 12

Half-drilled

Question 13

Cultured pearl with any unsightly portion cut or ground off.

Answer 13

Three-quarter-cut

Question 14

A mixture of clear varnish and fish scales used in making imitation pearls.

Answer 14

Essence d’orient

Question 15

What happens when saltwater cultured pearls are exposed to gamma rays?

A. Nacre lightens

B. Nacre darkens

C. Bead nucleus darkens

D. Nacre and bead nucleus darken

Answer 15

C. Bead nucleus darkens

Question 16

Pearl colors tend to be

A. intense.

B. light in tone.

C. low in saturation.

D. high in saturation.

Answer 16

C. low in saturation.

Question 17

The best way to clean pearls is with

A. detergent.

B. a steam cleaner.

C. an ultrasonic cleaner.

D. warm, mild soapy water.

Answer 17

D. warm, mild soapy water.

Question 18

When mollusks live in cooler water, they form

A. larger pearls.

B. pearls with higher luster.

C. pearls with thicker nacre.

D. pearls with darker bodycolor.

Answer 18

B. pearls with higher luster.

Question 19

To bleach akoya pearls, processors use

A. citric acid.

B. gamma radiation.

C. a combination of hydrochloric acid and heat.

D. a combination of hydrogen peroxide and fluorescent light.

Answer 19

D. a combination of hydrogen peroxide and fluorescent light.

Question 20

The trade term for Tahitian cultured pearls with a dark green-gray to blue-gray bodycolor and rosé to purple overtones.

Answer 20

Peacock

Question 21

The trade term for light pinkish orange Chinese freshwater cultured pearls

Answer 21

Apricot

Question 22

The trade term for Tahitian cultured pearls with a dark grayish purple bodycolor

Answer 22

Aubergine

Question 23

The trade term for strong greenish yellow to orangy yellow South Sea cultured pearls

Answer 23

Golden

Question 24

The trade term for light pinkish purple Chinese freshwater cultured pearls

Answer 24

Lavender

Question 25

The trade term for Tahitian cultured pearls with a yellowish green to greenish yellow bodycolor

Answer 25

Pistachio

Question 26

Usually, the diameters of the cultured pearls in a strand vary from each other by no more than

A. 0.5 mm.

B. 1 mm.

C. 1.5 mm.

D. 2 mm.

Answer 26

A. 0.5 mm.

Question 27

Pearls that show noticeable blemishes are

A. Lightly Spotted.

B. Heavily Spotted.

C. Severely Spotted.

D. Moderately Spotted.

Answer 27

D. Moderately Spotted.

Question 28

The nacre quality classification described as “Nucleus not noticeable, no chalky appearance” is

A. Fair.

B. Excellent.

C. Very Good.

D. Acceptable.

Answer 28

D. Acceptable.

Question 29

The matching level that describes a group of pearls with minor variations in uniformity is

A. Fair.

B. Good.

C. Excellent.

D. Very Good.

Answer 29

B. Good.

Question 30

Which overtone color increases the value of akoya cultured pearls with white bodycolor?

A. Rosé

B. Green

C. Brown

D. Yellow

Answer 30

A. Rosé