Assignment 17 -Pearl Value Factors, Processing, and Treatments Flashcards
A procedure that includes cleaning, buffing, and sometimes bleaching, done to make cultured pearls presentable and appealing.
Process
Features used to judge the quality and value of pearls.
Value factors
What qualities determine the overall value of a pearl?
The seven value factors are:
* Size
* Shape
* Color
* Luster
* Surface Quality
* Nacre Quality
* Matching
How does the importance of an individual value factor vary among pearl types?
Each value factor varies in importance for different pearl types (e.g. Color for Thaitian pearls or size for Akoya pearls)
What influence does a pearl’s structure have on its quality?
Round is the rarest and most valuable cultured pearl shape.
A pearl with one or more grooved or ridged rings all the way around it.
Circled pearl
Irregularities confined to a pearl’s surface.
Blemishes
Which cultured pearl types require less processing than others?
South Sea and Tahitian pearls less often require bleaching than Akoya or Freshwater pearls.
What factors does a cultured pearl sorter have to consider?
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.
What are some common cultured pearl treatments?
- Luster enhancement
- Dyeing
- Tinting
- Irradiation
- Coating
- Filling
- Peeling
Cultured pearl with a hole drilled all the way through; sometimes called drilled-through.
Full-drilled
Cultured pearl with a hole drilled halfway through to permit mounting on a post.
Half-drilled
Cultured pearl with any unsightly portion cut or ground off.
Three-quarter-cut
A mixture of clear varnish and fish scales used in making imitation pearls.
Essence d’orient
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
C. Bead nucleus darkens
Pearl colors tend to be
A. intense.
B. light in tone.
C. low in saturation.
D. high in saturation.
C. low in saturation.
The best way to clean pearls is with
A. detergent.
B. a steam cleaner.
C. an ultrasonic cleaner.
D. warm, mild soapy water.
D. warm, mild soapy water.
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.
B. pearls with higher luster.
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.
D. a combination of hydrogen peroxide and fluorescent light.
The trade term for Tahitian cultured pearls with a dark green-gray to blue-gray bodycolor and rosé to purple overtones.
Peacock
The trade term for light pinkish orange Chinese freshwater cultured pearls
Apricot
The trade term for Tahitian cultured pearls with a dark grayish purple bodycolor
Aubergine
The trade term for strong greenish yellow to orangy yellow South Sea cultured pearls
Golden
The trade term for light pinkish purple Chinese freshwater cultured pearls
Lavender
The trade term for Tahitian cultured pearls with a yellowish green to greenish yellow bodycolor
Pistachio
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.
A. 0.5 mm.
Pearls that show noticeable blemishes are
A. Lightly Spotted.
B. Heavily Spotted.
C. Severely Spotted.
D. Moderately Spotted.
D. Moderately Spotted.
The nacre quality classification described as “Nucleus not noticeable, no chalky appearance” is
A. Fair.
B. Excellent.
C. Very Good.
D. Acceptable.
D. Acceptable.
The matching level that describes a group of pearls with minor variations in uniformity is
A. Fair.
B. Good.
C. Excellent.
D. Very Good.
B. Good.
Which overtone color increases the value of akoya cultured pearls with white bodycolor?
A. Rosé
B. Green
C. Brown
D. Yellow
A. Rosé
