An independent guide to pearls — what they are, what they cost, and how to judge them.
More Than Pearls is an independent guide to pearl jewellery. We explain how pearls are graded, what separates a £100 strand from a £10,000 one, how to distinguish real pearls from imitation, and how to look after them so they last.
Pearl buying is unusually opaque. Terminology is inconsistent between sellers, treatments are frequently undisclosed, and dyed freshwater pearls are routinely marketed using language borrowed from far more expensive types. A buyer with a few clear principles can navigate all of that; without them, they are relying entirely on the seller's honesty.
Everything is written to be usable by someone standing in a shop without a loupe or a laboratory. Where a quality distinction is genuinely invisible to the naked eye, we say so — including when that means a cheaper pearl is the sensible buy.
We are an information publisher, not a jeweller. We do not sell pearls, hold stock, or process orders. We do not accept payment for recommending sellers, and we do not publish sponsored rankings.
Questions and corrections are welcome via our contact page.