What is the most important quality of a pearl?
Above all else, luster is the single most important expression of a pearls beauty. Luster refers to the light reflected from the pearls surface. A high quality pearl with good luster will reflect a clear mirror image of the objects around it, and will also have a distinct sharp contrast between the pearls bright and shaded areas. This creates the illusion of a glowing ball within a pearl. In addition to luster, you will also want to look for pearls with round shapes and minimal surface markings.
