Wearing pearls has long been a tradition when it comes to weddings.  Nonetheless, many women have difficulty choosing the right pearls or become overwhelmed by the selection process.  After all, once you start looking at your options, you may be surprised to find that there are so many options available!

Types of Pearls

There are four primary forms of pearls that you will have to select from.  These include:

· Akoya
· Tahitian
· South Sea
· Freshwater

Akoya, South Sea and Tahitian are more valuable than freshwater pearls, as they are all found in oceans.  Freshwater pearls, on the other hand, provide a greater luster than those found in oceans.  Nonetheless, the most popular pearls are Akoya because they offer a mirror-like finish, rich colors and attractive roundness.

Valuing Your Pearls

When searching for the perfect pearls, it is important to know how to judge the value and quality of the pearls you are looking at.  Pearls are measured in grades, with the various grades being:

· A
· AA
· AA+
· AAA
· AAA+

The AAA+ grade is the of the highest quality, which means a pearl with an A grade will cost you only a fraction of an AAA+ pearl.

Choosing the Pearl You Love

Of course, value is not the only thing to consider when picking your pearls.  Obviously, you want to choose pearls that will look beautiful on you on your wedding day.  Therefore, be certain to examine the pearl’s luster, which is how well the light reflects from its surface.  The color is also an important consideration, as are the size of the pearls.  When it comes down to it, the most important factor is how good the pearls look on you on your special day!