The Basic Methods of Pearl Farming: A Layman's Manual - CTSA

Selling pearls and pearl productsSelling pearls and pearl productsMost farmers sell pearls directly to buyers, who will often attend the harvest, particularly if the harvestis a large one or many farmers are participating. The buyer will want to grade the pearls, meaningevaluate the quality of each pearl. The farmer can also market his pearls directly to jewelers or wholesalers,but this requires travel and a good knowledge of pearl grading and pricing.Pearls are usually sold as lots, although individual pearls may also be sold.A harvest will usually be divided into lots of pearls of similar size and quality. The buyer will then paya set price for the entire lot. Some buyers will want to buy only individual pearls that are large or ofparticularly high quality. If the best pearls are removed from the lot, it may be difficult to sell theremaining pearls since there will be fewer choice pearls to tempt the buyer. Until a farmer has a goodknowledge of pearl grading and marketing, it will generally be advantageous to sell the pearls in lots.The quality and price of a pearl depends on several factors: size, shape, luster, color,orient and texture.A “good” or “high” quality pearl is large, round, lustrous, smooth without flaws and possesses aniridescent quality.Size is one of the main determinants of price.Pearl sizes are measured by the diameter in millimeters. They may also be weighed in mommes (3.75grams) or grams. Large pearls (over 12 mm) are much higher-priced than the smaller ones. For example,in 1992 the average price of a black pearl rated as fine, measuring 8 mm (0.32 in), was $285;while a 9-mm (0.36 in) pearl of the same quality was worth $385 – a difference of $100 for a 1-mm (0.6in) increase in size. The next size pearl (10 mm or 0.4 in) was worth $560, an increase of $175 for a 1-mm (0.6 in) increase in size. This progressively greater difference in price continues as pearls getlarger, explaining the reasons an experienced technician will be careful to use the largest size nucleuspossible. Every millimeter difference in size can mean a substantial increase in price.Pearls harvested so early that the nacre layer is very thin, are not only smaller, but are also considered tobe of lower quality because a thin nacre layer can easily crack. The luster and orient of thin nacre mayalso be of lesser quality. Your reputation as a pearl producer can suffer by attempting to sell pearls withthin nacre. A proper nacre layer should be at least 0.08-0.12 in (2-3 mm) thick, which takes approximately18-24 months. Therefore, it is wise not to harvest too early.Page 63