Certificate of Authenticity
A document stating what a pearl is. Useful in proportion to who issued it and what it actually tests.
A meaningful report identifies whether the pearl is natural or cultured, freshwater or saltwater, and whether colour has been treated. Serious reports rely on X-ray and spectroscopy, not visual inspection.
A seller-issued certificate is a statement of what the seller believes and stands behind. That has real value as a returns and warranty document, and none as independent verification.
For everyday pearl jewellery, independent lab certification usually costs a meaningful share of the piece's value, which is why it is normally reserved for large single saltwater pearls.
When you are buying
Insist on independent certification for a large South Sea or Tahitian pearl, or for any pearl bought for astrological use. For a freshwater strand, a clear written description and a returns policy protect you better than a certificate does.
Natural Pearl
A pearl that formed with no human involvement at all. Vanishingly rare, and effectively absent from the retail market.
South Sea Pearl
The largest commercially grown pearl, from the gold-lipped or silver-lipped oyster. Typically 9mm to 16mm, white to deep gold.
Dosham-Free Pearl
A pearl free of the specific flaws that Vedic astrology considers inauspicious: cracks, pits, spots and irregular colour.
Hallmark
An official stamp certifying precious metal purity. In India, BIS hallmarking is mandatory for gold jewellery.