Sabah Pearls - A holiday without buying souvenirs? Sounds like a waste holiday, don’t you think? Anyway, of all the great souvenirs you’ll get from some places not far from Singapore, you won’t find the best one other than from Sabah: Sabah pearls! Girls, you better plan your holiday to Sabah ASAP.

Sabah itself is located in East Malaysia. It has been popular for pearls for a long time. With an abundance of marine resources, no wonder you’ll find the best pearls in Sabah. Not stopping there, Sabah also has the best artisan craftsmanship for pearls, making Sabah pearls more valuable and more appealing. Well, it seems like you will spend a lot of money on pearls this holiday!

Anyway, do you know where pearls come from? Pearls naturally come from oysters or mollusks, and of course pearls come from under the sea, so they are called saltwater pearls. There are also pearls from freshwater mussels, called the freshwater pearls. They are formed inside certain species of freshwater mussels in rivers, lakes, and ponds and made beautiful pearls for us to wear!

So, before you go all crazy for those Sabah pearls, you should know some important things about pearls!

Pearls come in two types: freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls. Both of them are beautiful jewelry for sure, but still, there are some differences between them, aside from where they come from. We mentioned this before.

You can see the difference between them by their size and shape. The shape of the saltwater pearls are more varied, you’ll find them as round, oval, and even irregular shapes. It will be easier to find saltwater pearls in small sizes, although there’s also those in large sizes. Saltwater pearls, on the other hand, are larger and mostly will have round shapes, or maybe almost round.

There are plenty of ‘perfect’ freshwater pearls that have a high quality surface, but most of them are luster. Meanwhile, saltwater pearls have higher luster and even shine more brilliant. The fewer imperfections on saltwater pearls make them more valuable.

While both of them are great to own, you should also know the pros and cons of each pearl. Freshwater pearls will be more available, and the color and shape are more varied, but it has lower luster, has more imperfections and irregularities on the shape, and the size is usually not that big.

If you want them bigger and better in shape, you should get saltwater pearls. Who doesn’t love large pearls that will actually shout “elegant” on your appearance? But, of course, it will cost more and they usually come in those classic shapes, meaning they have limited color variations.

Yup, you read it. Real beauties are imperfect, hence the imperfection doesn't make it any less beautiful. It also applied to pearls—real pearls! Each of the pearls are unique, just remember that the real ones are produced naturally, so they are going to have different shapes, gritty, tiny dents, lines, and other imperfections. Worry not, the more it seems natural, the more you’ll be sure that those are real pearls.

Also, make sure you already know that pearls don’t have to be perfectly round, just like you always see on TV as a stereotype of pearls. In fact, you can find pearls in oval-shaped, or in asymmetrical-shaped. But, really, however they are shaped, real pearls are always beautiful and glamorous!

Try holding real pearls and fake pearls on each of your hands. The real pearls will more likely feel heavier than the fake ones. Although, with all the technology development, you will also find fake pearls that actually feel heavy when you hold it. Hence, only holding and feeling the weight of the pearls, you should also consider other ways to know whether you’re facing real pearls or not.

You do realize that pearls come from the deep sea, so it makes sense that real pearls will feel cooler than the fake ones. Real pearls will adjust to your body temperature when you wear them, while the fake ones will probably be warmer. But, of course, due to technology (again), there are fake ones that actually use some materials that can imitate the temperature of real pearls. Yet, the fake ones won’t get to the temperature of your body as fast as the real ones, for sure.

Do you realize that pearls have a sound too and you can actually decide whether it’s real or fake from how it sounds? Real pearls have softer sound when you knock them together, while the fake ones will be ‘louder’. Also, you’ll hear the sound of sandy texture if you knock the real pearls. Well, now you know how to assess the pearls!

The shape of a pearl is a key factor in determining its value. Round pearls are considered the most valuable and sought after due to their rarity and symmetry, just like we told you about saltwater pearls. That’s why saltwater pearls are more likely to be expensive.

However, other shapes like near-round, oval, or baroque can also have unique appeal and value, depending on the market and individual preferences.

The larger the pearl, the higher the value. Larger pearls are generally more valuable because they are less common and can be used in a variety of jewelry pieces. Well, you do agree that large pearls seem richer, more elegant, more stand out, you name it!

The surface quality of a pearl is assessed by examining blemishes, spots, or imperfections on its surface. Flawless pearls with smooth, unblemished surfaces will surely be more valuable, as they are considered rare and more visually appealing.

Pearls with visible flaws or irregularities may be less valuable, although their uniqueness can sometimes make them desirable for certain jewelry designs.

Luster refers to the quality of light reflection on the pearl's surface. No wonder, pearls with high luster exhibit a radiant, mirror-like sheen, making them highly desirable and valuable. This attribute is often associated with the pearl's nacre thickness and quality, and it greatly contributes to the pearl's overall beauty and value.

Well, well, now you’re ready to go to Sabah and hunt down some great Sabah pearls for yourself. Prepare your budget, book the best hotels in Sabah, and don’t forget to book it on Traveloka. Some ongoing hotel promotion on Traveloka might save more of your hotel budget. Have a “shiny” holiday in Sabah!