How Much is A Pearl Necklace

What is A Pearl Necklace

Pearl necklaces are stylish, elegant, and trendy, especially today. This means that if you are interested in buying the best assortment of jewelry, pearl necklaces are perfect for you.

The problem, however, is that pearl necklaces made from real pearls tend to be very expensive and out of reach for most people interested in this type of jewelry.

This means that most pearl necklaces on the market today are made from artificial or simulated pearl necklaces, which explains their reasonable price.

So, how much does a real pearl necklace cost? What is the reason for their high prices?

4 Common Pearl Types and Price Ranges (Value by Pearl Type)

Before understanding the common types of real pearls and their value, let's first understand the basics of pearls.

Essentially, real pearls are among the most precious gemstones, and the main reason for their value is that pearls are made from oysters and mussels, as well as other species of bivalve mollusks.

Today, however, most pearls used in jewelry are cultured by inserting the base ingredients/materials into mollusks. After that, the mollusk will spread several layers of concentric circles in the nacre, which continues until the pearl forms. In this case, iridescent nacre represents the hallmark of true pearls.

On the other hand, be aware that fake pearls are made from ceramics, glass, shells and even plastics, which look like real pearls. In most cases, fake pearls are painted and covered with different materials to simulate real luster or pearls, albeit with a fake iridescence. To the human eye, these fake pearls look real, but you really shouldn't be fooled by the shards, especially when you know that real pearls are nowhere near as cheap as fakes are peddling. Keep in mind that up to 99% of fake pearls on the market are of poor quality and are only used for low-cost fashion jewelry.

So, What Are the Most Common Types of Pearl Necklaces?

To figure out the actual cost of buying a real pearl necklace, you must understand the value of the pearls. In general, it's worth noting that traditional white pearl chains can range in price from around $50 for freshwater pearls to $100,000 or more for larger chains.

Common True Pearl Types

1. Tahitian pearls

The first is the Tahitian pearl, a dark and exotic pearl. Often called black pearl, it comes in different shades from grey to green, and some are eggplant.

These pearls come from French Polynesia and are the pearls of choice for fine jewelry lovers looking for truly unique and rare pearls.

Tahitian pearls do not require any treatment to maintain their black/deep iridescence and the different colors associated with these pearls are all natural. Tahitian pearls are smaller than South Sea pearls, but they can grow quite large, with an average size between 8mm and 14mm.

The unique color and iridescence of Tahitian pearls and their uniqueness is why these black Tahitian pearls are quite expensive, ranging from $3,000 to over $35,000.

2. Japanese Akoya Pearls

Acclaimed as the classic white pearl, Japanese Akoya cultured pearls are the most famous pearls in the world with their perfect round shape and near-perfect combination of bright, lustrous and highly reflective luster.

What you may not know about Akoya pearls is that these classic pearls were the first pearls cultured over 100 years ago, and they have become widely accepted as the finest cultured pearls. Even so, it's worth noting that Akoya pearls are generally smaller than most other types of cultured pearls, with an average size of 6mm to 9mm. 

These pearl chains are also expensive, with the cheapest at $1,000 and the most expensive Akoya pearls at over $10,000.

3. Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater cultured pearls originate in China and are the most common type of pearls for people looking for real but affordable pearls and pearl necklaces. These pearls are colorful yet affordable, and you can choose from a variety of colors, from white to pink, lilac, peach, and even black pearls.

They also vary widely in size, from smaller pearls ranging from 6mm to 7mm to larger pearls between 10mm and 11mm. Thanks to modern innovations, some cultured freshwater pearls are as large as 15mm. In addition to a variety of colors and sizes, these pearls are also available in a variety of shapes, meaning you'll find the most unique or diverse options here. 

Freshwater pearls can range from $40 to $20,000

4. South Sea Pearls

Also known as the Rolls-Royce of Pearls or the Queen of Cultured Pearls, South Sea pearls are the most valuable and largest type of pearls in the pearl field today. 

The average size of South Sea pearls is between 10mm and 15mm. Note that there are white and gold South Sea pearls, the minimum size of these pearls is 8mm. Some of these pearls can be larger than 16mm.

These pearls grow in large pearl oysters native to Myanmar, the Philippines, Australia and Indonesia 

Given their uniqueness, size, and quality of these pearls, South Sea pearl chains are priced differently, ranging from $1,000 to over $100,000.

What is the Most Expensive Pearl?

Well, the most expensive pearls in the world are those found by Filipino fishermen in the waters off Palawan Island. Pearls are at least 26 inches. Today, the pearl is worth $100,000.

How Much is A Real Pearl Necklace

The most expensive and valuable pearl necklaces are white and gold necklaces. These classic white pearl chains typically range in price from $50 to over $100,000). Akoya and South Sea pearls are among the most valuable pearls.

Essentially, classic white pearl necklaces range in price from $50 for freshwater cultured pearls to over $10,000 for South Sea, Akoya and Tahitian pearls.

For most pearls, their shape and size will determine the overall price of the pearl necklace. Taking these into account, for example, a pearl necklace made of South Sea pearls would be worth over $100,000.

Other Factors That Determine Pearl Value

As mentioned above, the most common factors that determine the cost and value of pearls are variable, and there are many types of pearls on the market that are valued according to their characteristics.

In terms of specific factors, the most valuable pearls are:

Pearl Type - The most valuable pearls are South Sea pearls

Pearl Size - Generally speaking, larger pearls are more valuable than smaller pearls 

Pearl Color - Pearls come in a variety of colors, and unique colors are more valuable.

Pearl Shape - Rounder pearls are more valuable than non-round ones.

Pearl Luster - The most valuable pearls have a shimmering luster.

The surface quality of the pearls - There are always fewer blemishes on high value pearls.

Also Read: What Does Getting A Pearl Necklace Mean