Tahitian Pearl Grading

The grading for Tahitian pearls follows the standards or guidelines set by the French Polynesia government. The standards are based on the guidelines provided by the Ministere de la Perliculture of Tahiti andGIE Perles de Tahiti, and include the following classes:

Top Gem / Gem Grade

• Excellent luster, Gem Grade Flawless pearl
• No inclusions or imperfections before setting or drilling

Grade A / AAAA

• Flawless on at least 90% of the surface
• Slight, concentrated imperfections present in not more than 10% of pearl's surface
• Pearl should set clean or drill to virtually clean
• Only a single deep inclusion
• Very high luster

Grade AB / AAA

• Flawless on at least 80% of the surface
• Slight, concentrated imperfections only present in less than 20% of thesurface
• Pearl should set clean or drill to nearly clean
• Only one or two deep inclusions
• Very high luster

Grade B / AA

• Flawless on at least 70% of thesurface
• Slight, concentrated imperfections only present in less than 30% of the surface
• Pearl should set or drill nearly clean
• Only one or two deep inclusions
• Very high luster

Grade C / A+

• Flawless on at least 40% of the surface
• slight, concentrated imperfections in less than 60% of the surface
• Deep inclusions are limited to only 10% of the surface
• Medium to a very high luster

Grade D / A

• At least 60% of the surface will exhibit flaws
• White spots and/or deep inclusions within inclusions on up to 20% of the surface
• Poor to a very high luster

Important Point to Note: Cultured Tahitian pearls that do not meet the minimum nacre depth requirements or fall into a category do not pass the mandatory Ministere de la Perliculture examination. They are instead destroyed and not exported.