• Determine Which Type of Pearl You Need

• Judge Pearl Quality

• Maintain Your Pearls

• Find Pearls on eBay

• Buy Pearls with Confidence

Determine Which Type of Pearl You Need

Determine Which Type of Pearl You Need

When a small foreign object gets introduced into the body of an oyster or mollusk the organism produces a soft coating of calcium carbonate (nacre) around it, creating a pearl. Small foreign objects don't wander into mollusks very often so pearl cultivators insert microscopic objects into the organisms to create cultured pearls. You'll find four popular types of cultured pearls on eBay:

• Freshwater cultured pearls: Affordable freshwater cultured pearls originate in the freshwater lakes and rivers of China. They often have an asymmetrical shape, medium to high luster, and measure between 3.5 mm and 7.0 mm. Freshwater cultured pearls are mostly white, but can have a pink or rose tint.

• Tahitian cultured pearls: Tahitian cultured pearls have a unique black to grayish-green color. The large pearls, ranging from 11 mm to 13 mm, are farmed on the volcanic atolls and reefs of Tahiti. They are mostly round in shape and have a rich, high luster. Tahitian cultured pearls tend to cost more than other types of pearls based on their scarcity and unique look.    

• Akoya cultured pearls: Akoya cultured pearls are a type of saltwater pearl from China and Japan. They have round, symmetrical shape with few blemishes and measure between 6 mm and 8.5 mm. Akoya cultured pearls have a higher luster than freshwater pearls, average pricing, and a light color that ranges from cream to white/pink.   

• South Sea cultured pearls: Large South Sea cultured pearls (up to 13 mm), farmed in Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, range in color from white to black. They can have a perfectly round to slightly asymmetrical shape and medium to high luster. Price varies depending on luster.

Judge Pearl Quality

Judge Pearl Quality

Six factors determine the value of pearls:

1. Pearl luster: Luster describes a pearl's shininess. The higher the luster, the greater the pearl's value.

2. Pearl nacre thickness: The depth of the nacre, a pearl's external layer, is a measure of pearl quality. Generally, bigger pearls have thicker nacre layers and greater luster. Thin nacre can be prone to chipping and peeling.   

3. Pearl surface texture: Natural pearls can have a wide variety of abrasions. Minimal flaws do not severely detract from a pearl's value. However, more obvious surface imperfections will reduce a pearl's value. Drilling holes and stringing pearls on a necklace or mounting pearls can help deemphasize such imperfections.

4.Pearl color: The color of pearls is called "body color." Color is not a significant factor in determining a pearl's value as pearls can be found in gray, blue, gold, pink, white, black, and all shades of cream. Pearls can also be dyed, though reputable sellers should alert buyers of any such treatments. Some pearls have a secondary color or overtone. For instance, a white pearl may have a blue or pink tint upon closer inspection.

5. Pearl shape: Pearl shape can vary widely. Perfectly round pearls tend to command the greatest prices. Drop pearls and pear-shaped pearls can be particularly suited for earrings. Many jewelers use irregular baroque pearls as accents in jewelry.

6. Pearl size: Similar to diamonds, larger pearls are more expensive. Round pearls are measured according to their diameter in millimeters; baroque pearls by length and width.

Maintain Your Pearls

Maintain Your Pearls

Pearls are not as hard as mineral gemstones. When dressing, put on pearls only after applying hairspray, cosmetics, perfume or other potentially harmful substances that might stain them. To prevent chipping, pearl jewelry should be stored in soft cloth, away from other jewels.

Clean your pearls The oils from your skin actually help keep pearls moist, so even soapy water is unnecessary for cleaning pearls. Never clean pearls with any type of solvent or abrasive. To best maintain them, wipe them after use with a soft cloth, like those used for eyeglasses.

Know when to restring your pearls It is recommended that you restring pearls every few years as strings can wear down and break if not maintained.

Find Pearls on eBay

Find Pearls on eBay

Once you know what type of pearls you want, go to the Jewelry & Watches portal and start searching for items on eBay.

• Categories: Categories lists can help you quickly find pearls by item type. For example, to find pearl bracelets, click the Beaded, Strands link under Bracelets and choose Pearl from the left side of the page. Follow a similar process to discover pearl necklaces. Click the Strands/Strings link under Necklaces & Pendants. Then choose Pearl from the left side of the page. 

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find Tahitian pearl earrings, type "Tahitian pearl earrings" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords. 

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Pearls with Confidence

Buy Pearls with Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.