Size
Size is another important factor in determining the quality of pearls. Large pearls are usually produced by older or more mature oysters. The larger the pearl is, the older the mollusk or oyster. Isn’t it wonderful that in a world where youth is celebrated, pearls can remind us that age and maturity equals a higher worth. Pearls are measured in millimeters. The following is a size breakdown of pearl sizes:
- Small 3 to 4.5 mm
- Medium 5-6 mm
- Large 7-8 mm
- Very Large 8 mm and beyond.
A fun fact to note is that one of the largest pearls on record is the Hope Pearl (displayed at the British Museum of Natural History) which measures approximately 2” long with a circumference of approximately between 3 ¼” to 4 ½.” However, its size cannot compare to the size of the largest pearl recorded on the Guinness Book of Records, the Pearl of Allah. This enormous pearl, boasting a length of 9.4 inches and weighs approximately 14 pounds, was retrieved in 1934 near the coast of the Palawan Island in the Philippines. The name was given by the Muslim diver who found the pearl.
