Types of Pearl Blemishes

Whether pearls are cultured or created naturally, they are still formed organically, which is precisely why they are not always perfectly shaped, nor is their surface always absolutely flawless. Mother Nature nearly always leaves its mark, so pearls with a completely clean surface are extremely rare.

The more flawless a pearl is, the more expensive it is, but pearl blemishes and flaws on the surface actually indicate that a pearl is authentic. Nevertheless, their value greatly depends on their blemishes, so read on to find out which pearl flaws to look out for when choosing your pearl jewelry.Common Pearl Blemishes Include:

Common Pearl Blemishes Include:

  • Bumps / Welts

You can easily see with your naked eye. They are irregular bumps that appear when a lot of nacre is secreted to form a pearl.

  • Circles

Representing a growth characteristic, circles are concentric rings around the surface of a pearl. They are common in Baroque pearls, and they can be either very subtle or or grouped together heavily.

  • Cracks

Internal cracks may not be visible or sometimes look like fine hairs caught in the pearl. Again, these cracks usually do not really affect the beauty of the pearl, but can threaten its durability.

 

  • Dents / Divots

Medium to large indentations in the nacre and easily seen with the naked eye. These can be deep or shallow, match the body color of the pearl, or be a brownish/greyish color.

  • Knobs / Tips

Form on the ends of the pearl (99% of the time on baroque shaped pearls). Knobs and tips are natural growth characteristics and are also not counted as blemishes.

  • Pin pricks

Pin pricks are tiny pearl blemishes in the nacre that can be either individual or grouped together. It do not affect the long-term durability of the pearl, and are colorless or match the pearl’s body color.

  • Chalky spots 

The most common of Freshwater pearl blemish. They’re exactly what they sound like: dull, chalky-looking areas on the pearl surface.

 

 

  • Score marks or Scoring

It begins with a small pin prick or pit, and then appears to be drawn off lightly over the surface of the pearl.


Being aware of these common types of pearl flaws will help you shop for your favorite jewelry more wisely. However, if you’re not looking for perfection but rather one-of-a-kind pearls, most of these pearl blemishes will give your jewelry a unique and artistic flair.