A genuine pearl is supposed to have the following qualities :
- Smoothness, which gives an agreeable sensation to the eyes
- Lustre, soft glamor, attractiveness and brilliance of reflection
- Perfectly round, globular shape and size
- Moonlike, shining white color
- Compactness, which gives it a high specific gravity.
- Spotlessness and freedom from blemishes (dents, scratches, ridges) and impurities.
One who wears or possesses a pearl with all of the above mentioned qualities enjoys good fortune and is blessed by the goddess Lakshmi (the goddess of prosperity), lives long and becomes sinless, and obtains vitality and intelligence. He achieves high position by his wisdom and becomes famous.
A pearl with a yellow lustre brings prosperity. Red-tinted pearls make one intelligent, shining white pearls bring fame, and a pearl with a bluish hue brings good fortune.
A pearl devoid of lustre, that is, dirty, broken, having no gleam of circulating water, black or copper colored, partly white and partly colored, irregular, odd in shape having holes, dents, or sports is defective and should be avoided.