Pearl Value Estimator
Start from a base price, scale it by size, and apply your own type and grade multipliers to estimate what a pearl or strand is worth.
Estimated value
This multiplies your own base price by a size factor and the type and grade multipliers you supply. No market prices are built in — it is a planning aid, not an appraisal. For a real valuation, consult a qualified appraiser.
Size, type, and grade — in that order
Pearl pricing has no fixed rate card, but it does have a shape. Size dominates: because a larger pearl takes an oyster far longer to grow and far fewer reach the top sizes, value rises steeply — often close to the square of the diameter. Type sets the tier, from freshwater and Akoya up through Tahitian and South Sea, and grade fine-tunes it within a tier. This tool lets you encode all three as a base price and a set of multipliers you control.
Because you supply the figures, it stays useful as the market moves — update your base price and multipliers and the estimate follows. It compares options; it doesn’t appraise them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What determines a pearl's value?
Broadly four things: size, type, grade (luster, surface, shape, nacre, colour), and how well a strand matches. Size is the steepest lever because larger pearls are exponentially rarer, so value climbs with roughly the square of the diameter. This tool lets you set a base price and apply your own factors for each.
Where do the numbers come from?
From you. There are no market prices built in. You provide a base price per pearl at a reference size and neutral grade, and your own multipliers for type and grade — that keeps the estimate honest and current rather than pinned to a figure that goes stale.
What multipliers are typical for type and grade?
As a rough starting point, freshwater and Akoya sit near 1, Tahitian around 2–3, and South Sea 4 or more; for grade, A ≈ 1, AA ≈ 1.5, AAA ≈ 2.5. These vary a lot by source and season — treat them as placeholders and set values that match the market you're buying in.
Is this an appraisal?
No. It's a planning aid for comparing options and sanity-checking a quote, not a valuation. For insurance, resale, or a purchase that matters, get a written appraisal from a qualified, independent appraiser.
Educational estimate only — not an appraisal or financial advice. All figures are ones you supply; real pearl prices depend on the market and the specific pearls. For insurance or resale, get a written valuation from a qualified independent appraiser.