Pearl, also known as Moti, is a semi-precious gemstone that is shiny and luminous in nature. It is an organic gemstone that was found over a millennium ago. This round-shaped stone is made of nacre and calcium carbonate and is well-known for its everlasting beauty. Pearl Stone is formed within a living being, namely Mollusc, and is extracted really carefully. As per the astrological viewpoint, Pearl is associated with the Moon and is the birthstone for June-born people. A Pearl’s worth is determined by various factors such as its place of origin, shine, luminous effects, the texture of its surface and color.

Origin

There are various origins of Pearls all over the world. The most superior grade Pearls, also referred to as Basra Pearls, are extracted from Basra in the Persian Gulf and are highly rare. Other significant quality Pearls are extracted from India, Japan and Sri Lanka but compared to Basra Pearls, these are of low quality. Pearls extracted from South India, also known as South Sea Pearls, are quite famous in the gemstone world. Nowadays, for astrological purposes, Pearls are produced with the help of Pearl farming and are known as Cultured Pearl. However, these Pearls are worth quite less than Natural Pearls.

Quality Parameters

There are various quality parameters to determine the worth of a Pearl, such as size, shape, color, nacre and luster.

Size

A Pearl’s size is calculated by measuring its length and width, and the unit used is millimeters. The most popular size for Pearls is around 7mm to 15 mm.

Shape

Pearls are found in a variety of shapes, such as symmetrical, drop and irregular; however, round Pearls are of the highest worth.

Color

Pearls come in various colors and overtones depending on the Mollusc they are extracted from. Pearls with rare body colors and overtones are priced higher than regular Pearls. Rose over-toned white Pearls are ranked the highest in terms of value, whereas creamy Pearls are considered second best.

Nacre

Nacre is the reason due to which Pearls get their shiny texture. This shiny texture needs to be clean and shouldn't be irregular for a Pearl to be of good quality.

Luster

Luster can be defined as the luminous effect that a Pearl reflects. Translucent nacre Pearls are of superior quality as they offer extraordinary luminous effects, and that is why they are worth more than other kinds of Pearls.

Price

All the quality parameters mentioned above are responsible for determining the value of a Pearl. Pearls formed through Pearl farming, also known as Cultured Pearls, range between $6 to $240 per carat in the US. Whereas Natural Pearl prices in the US fall between $5 to $2000 per carat; however, the prices may cross this range for rarer Pearls due to their unique attributes.

Benefits

As we know, the Pearl stone is associated with the Moon; hence it holds high astrological significance in the gemstone world. Due to its association with the Moon, it is the most suitable stone for people born in June or belonging to the Capricorn zodiac sign. Wearing a Moti stone offers various benefits, but the most significant one is enhancing the determination of the wearer to deal with life in a positive manner. Another important advantage of wearing a Pearl stone is keeping the mind of the wearer at peace by reducing anger and mental anxiety so that the wearer’s mental health is up to the mark. It also assists in curing sleep disorders of the wearer. Memory retaining power and cognition skills of the wearer can also be improved by wearing a Moti gemstone.

Where to purchase Natural Pearls

The current gemstone market is full of Cultivated Pearls formed with the help of Pearl farming; however, these Pearls don’t hold the same astrological significance and worth as Natural Pearls. Hence it has become hard for people with less gemstone knowledge to determine whether the Pearl they are buying is natural or cultural. To deal with this situation, various gemological institutes offer gemstone certificates that hold all the necessary information regarding gemstones. Navratan, the online gem bazaar, sells superior quality Natural Pearls worldwide that come with free gemstone certificates so that buyers can ensure the authenticity of the Pearls they are purchasing.