Pure Pearls Glossary
Know exactly what you are buying
12 terms on size & length, each linked to the pieces we actually have.
Decode a listing
Paste a description from anywhere. We will tell you what it actually says, what to be wary of, and what the same thing costs here.
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Freshwater, saltwater, South Sea, keshi, and how to tell a real pearl from a coated bead.
Round, baroque, drop, coin and the rest, and what each one is worth paying for.
What AAA actually means, plus lustre, nacre, orient and the claims to be sceptical of.
Millimetres, choker to rope, bangle sizing, and which length suits which neckline.
Jhumka, mangalsutra, kundan, polki, temple work and the rest of the Indian vocabulary.
925 silver, plating thickness, American diamond, coral, hallmarks and karat versus carat.
Clasps, knotting, drilling and settings — the parts that decide whether a piece survives.
Storing pearls, the tooth test, restringing, and the astrological terms buyers ask about.
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Size & Length
Showing 1 to 12 of 12
Adjustable
A necklace or bracelet with an extension chain, letting the wearer add an inch or two.
2 in stock · from ₹11,200
Bracelet Length
Usually 7 to 8 inches. Should be about half an inch longer than the wrist so the piece moves rather than grips.
77 in stock · from ₹1,200
Choker Length
A necklace of about 14 to 16 inches, sitting snugly at the base of the throat.
94 in stock · from ₹2,700
Collar Length
The shortest classic length, around 12 to 13 inches, worn tight against the middle of the neck.
Lines
How many parallel strands a necklace is made from. A 3-line necklace has three rows running together into one clasp.
14 in stock · from ₹2,850
Matinee Length
Roughly 20 to 24 inches, falling on the chest. Reads as daywear rather than evening formality.
103 in stock · from ₹3,500
Millimetre (mm)
The unit every pearl is measured in. One millimetre of difference is clearly visible on the neck.
Opera Length
About 28 to 36 inches, reaching the breastbone or below. Can be doubled into a two-strand choker.
26 in stock · from ₹11,200
Pearl Size
The diameter of a pearl in millimetres, measured across its widest point. Price rises steeply, not evenly, with size.
73 in stock · from ₹3,300
Princess Length
About 17 to 19 inches, resting just below the collarbone. The default necklace length, and the safest gift.
172 in stock · from ₹1,800
Rope Length
Anything beyond about 36 inches. Long enough to knot, layer or wear as several strands at once.
2 in stock · from ₹17,680
Stud Size
The pearl diameter on a stud earring. 6mm to 8mm is everyday; 9mm and up is a statement.
31 in stock · from ₹1,000
Still deciding?
Every term here links to what we actually have in stock. Or start from the collection and filter your way in.