How to Buy Loose Pearls

Loose pearls can be used for anything from necklaces to earrings to bracelets. Prior to searching for loose pearls, decide how you would like to use them. Once you decide it will be easier to narrow down the types of pearls that will suit your needs.

Drilled or Undrilled

When buying loose pearls you can specify if you would like your pearls drilled or undrilled. Undrilled pearls are sometimes called "keepsake pearls." Drilled pearls can be drilled all the way through the center of the pearl, drilled twice through, drilled through the side or drilled halfway through the pearl.

Color

Loose pearls come in both natural and processed colors. Natural colors are white, pink, mauve or black. Processed colors can be red, green, gold or brown, among others. Many loose-pearl retailers will be able to process pearls in a specific shade for you.

Size

Pearls can come in multitudes of sizes and vary based on your needs. The smallest "seed" pearls are about one millimeter, while the larger pearls can measure 20 millimeters or more. The most popular size for loose pearls is around seven to 7.5 millimeters; anything over eight millimeters is considered to be high-end.

References

• Oriental Pearls: Loose Pearls & Individual Pearls
• Pure Pearls: Pearl Sizes: Does Size Really Matter?