There are a couple of freshwater pearl beads freshwater pearl grading systems in use, and most reputable dealers will stay within what has become acceptable grading within the industry.

When one sees a web site specifying a strand of silver pearl jewelry pearls as Grade AAAA++++, she should immediately click to another web site, because this dealer either does not know what he is talking about, or is blatantly attempting to misrepresent the product.

Why is that, you ask? Well first of all you should know that there is no standard pearl grading system for pearls. One person may grade a string of pearl strands pearls AAA; and another may grade the same strand grade A; and still another, using stricter guidelines, may grade the same strand grade B. Another may take her best strand and label that as an AAA when in reality it is a much lower grade. Therefore, it becomes apparent that grading pearls is highly subjective.