Pearl Grading Guide — AAA, AA, A Explained
There is no single universal A, AA or AAA grading scale for cultured pearls. Letter grades are seller-specific unless a named standard and its exact criteria are identified. This guide explains how to read a seller grade without treating it as an independent laboratory conclusion.
Product factors to compare
- Luster — the strength and sharpness of reflected light.
- Surface — the type, number and visibility of surface characteristics.
- Shape — the observed shape, described separately from quality.
- Color — body color and overtone, plus any stated treatment.
- Size — the measurement method and stated dimensions.
- Matching — for pairs or strands, consistency across the group.
How to read our seller grade
When an A, AA or AAA notation appears in a current product record, it is our seller-specific shorthand for the written assessment supplied for that item. The product record and its stated criteria control. The same letters used by another seller may mean something different.
What a grade does not prove
A seller grade does not by itself establish geographic provenance, treatment status, market value or an independent laboratory result. Those facts require their own product evidence or report.
Documentation
Documentation varies by item. Seller-issued documentation is not an independent laboratory report unless a named laboratory and report identifier are shown.
Independent references
- GIA pearl reports and services — GIA documents its report types and its own seven pearl value factors: size, shape, color, luster, surface, nacre and matching. This is GIA's reporting framework; it is not equivalent to a seller's A, AA or AAA labels.
- FTC Jewelry Guides — The FTC requires jewelry claims and disclosures to be truthful and non-misleading.
Frequently asked questions
Is A, AA or AAA a universal pearl grade?
No. Letter grades are seller-specific unless a named standard and its exact criteria are identified. Compare the written criteria, not the letters alone.
Is a seller grade an independent laboratory conclusion?
No. A seller grade is the seller's product assessment. A named independent laboratory report is separate and should identify its issuer and report identifier.
How should two graded pearls be compared?
Compare the stated species, size, luster, surface, shape, color, matching and treatment information under each seller's written criteria.