Cultured Tahitian Pearl Grading

Grading pearls for quality is important because it establishes a measure of quality standard which customers and retailers can judge their merchandise by, protects their value and allows a customer to take comfort in knowing their pearls are genuine and not of poor quality.

Tahitian Cultured Pearls grading standards are set forth by GIE Perles de Tahiti, and the Ministere de la Perliculture of Tahiti; the governmental organizations of French Polynesia dedicated to the promotion and regulation of Tahitian pearls, and consumer protection. This ensures only high quality pearls make it to the market, and protects the reputation surrounding Tahitian black pearls as the ones of the highest value in the world.

Please be aware of the fake grades such as AAA+ and AAAA.
These are not industry accepted grades.

A-D (Tahitian) Grading	A-AAA Grading	Grading Description and Criteria
Top Gem	Gem Grade	Gem Grade Flawless pearl with excellent luster Pearl exhibits no inclusions or imperfections prior to setting or drilling
A	AAA	Flawless on at least 90% of pearl’s surface Only 10% of pearl’s surface may exhibit slight, concentrated imperfections Only a single deep inclusion allowable Pearl should drill or set clean to virtually clean Luster is very high
A/B	AA+	Flawless on at least 80% of pearl’s surface Only 20% of pearl’s surface may exhibit slight, concentrated imperfections Only one or two deep inclusions allowable Pearl should drill or set clean to nearly clean Luster is high to very high
B	AA	Flawless on at least 70% of pearl’s surface Only 30% of pearl’s surface may exhibit slight, concentrated imperfections Pearl should drill or set nearly clean Luster is high to very high
C	A+	Flawless on at least 40% of pearl’s surface Up to 60% of pearl’s surface may exhibit slight, concentrated imperfections Deep inclusions are limited to 10% of pearl’s surface Luster is medium to very high
D	A	At least 60% of pearl’s surface will exhibit flaws Deep inclusions and/or white spots within inclusions on up to 20% of pearl’s surface Luster is poor to very high

*Cultured Tahitian pearls that do not fall into a category above, or do not meet the minimum nacre depth requirements of 0.8 mm per radius, do not pass the mandatory examination of the Ministere de la Perliculture of Tahiti. Those pearls are refused for export and destroyed.