Surface Quality
The quantity and severity(or lack) of blemishes on the pearl's surface. Even the lowest quality pearls we normally we offer (AA+) have very few and insignificant blemishes. We do not sell pearls with heavy blemishing,whick would includes cracks,grooves,blisters or peeling skins.Blemishes should not be obvious to the naked eye at arm's length.

Luster
Luster is the term used to describe the brilliance reflected from the surface of pearl nacre.Nacre is the outer layerof the pearl which is formed within the oyster,prior to the pearl being harvested.The more light a pearl reflects,the more lustrous than freshwater pearls.If a pearl appears chalky rather than shiny,it is said to have lower luster.A and AA grade pearls are the least lustrous and,for that reason,we do not carry those pearl types here at National Pearl.AAA and AAAA have the highest luster and,as a result,are the only quality we carry.
