How Freshwater Pearls are classified

The most important thing and the first thing to understand about the classification of pearls is that, unlike diamonds, there is no standardized system. Each brand or company creates its own subjective system. So you should not take it into account to compare pearls from different companies.

This is the system we use at Secret & You to grade our freshwater pearls:

S&Y Signature

The pearls that we categorize as S&Y Signature, are exceptional pearls, these pearls are usually sold in the wholesale market, loose, or in pairs and without drilling. They are generally reserved for creating earrings, pendants or rings, but can also be used to create a pearl necklace of exceptional quality.

The highest grade in freshwater pearls.
They show a very intense shine and a deep oriental color with a lot of reflection.
In the case of round pearls (we also graduate pearls of other shapes, baroque or drop for example), they are completely round.
Surface clean of imperfections.
They belong to the best 0.1% of the crop.
Excellent matchup.

AAA

Pearls of excellent quality, in the case of necklaces, it is the highest grade of pearls that are not sold loose.
Excellent brightness.
In the case of round pearls (we also graduate pearls of other shapes, baroque or drop for example), they are round to sight.
Clean surface.
They belong to the top 1% of the crop.
Excellent matchup.

AA+

Very high quality pearls.
Shine goes from good to intense.
In the case of round pearls, they look round from half a meter away. (We also graduate pearls of other shapes, baroque or drop for example)
Surface is 80-90% clean, they may have some small inconspicuous imperfections or in an inconspicuous area.
They belong to the best 5% of the crop.
Matched very good.

Good quality pearls
Good brightness.
In the case of round pearls (we also graduate pearls of other shapes, baroque or drop for example), they are between round and semi-round.
Clean surface by 60-80%.
They belong to the best 10% of the crop.
Matched good.

Pearls of medium high quality.
Medium brightness
In the case of round pearls (we also graduate pearls of other shapes, baroque or drop for example), they are semi-round.
Clean surface on more than 50% of the surface.
They belong to the best 20% of the crop.
Matched good to medium.

Commercial quality

Medium low or low brightness or no brightness
Semi round.
With moderate to high imperfections.

Finally, we want to clarify that these criteria are not completely static, in case some pearls stand out especially in one of the factors, they can be graduated up or down. For example, a pearl that has a small blemish but shows exceptional luster may be graded AAA, even though pearls in this category generally have a clean surface.

In Secret & You we consider brilliance, the most important quality of pearls, so it greatly determines the grade assigned.

The classification of freshwater pearls.