Shell small for the genus, shape slender, with a high and elegant spire. Teleoconch with 8 or 9 convex whorls. Protoconch bulbuous and transluscent, with 2 smooth whorls. The suture is deep. The first teleoconch whorl is ornamented with two strong spiral cords. Towards the penultimate whorl their number is growing to 4 well pronounced spiral cords and 2 additional secondary cords. Body whorl with 10 to 14 spiral cords, the subsutural ones weaker. All whorls covered with 9 to 14 axial ribs, forming fine but well elevated knobs when crossing the spiral cords, which gives the whole shell a pearled appearance. Outer lip prominently variced in adult specimens. Aperture small, round. Outer lip with numerous small lirae within. Columella calloused with small denticles. Siphonal canal open and oblique, broad and short, typical for the genus. The colour is light brown. Occasionally with an additional thin, pale brown subsutural band. The base of the body whorl is paler than the rest of the shell. Siphonal canal occasionally with a faint brown streak on the ventral side. Protoconch white. Operculum, periostracum and animal unknown.

Nassaria perlata n. sp. is characterised by the slender shape in combination with the small size and by the low number of spiral cords in combination with white knobs when crossing the axials.

The following species are compared:
* Nassaria gracilis Sowerby, 1902 from southeastern Africa has a similar in pattern, but differs by the smoother sculpture, the much broader shell and by the varix on the outer lip which is more developed and much stronger on the shoulder.
* Nassaria magnificus (Lischke, 1871) from Japan is most similar in shape, but differs by the more turriculate shell, smoother sculpture and larger aperture.
* Nassaria takahanarensis (MacNeil, 1961), a fossil species from the Miocene of Okinawa is most similar in shape and sculpture but differs by the presence of a broad subsutural concavity and by the lower number of spiral cords on the base.

The Philippines, offshore Aliguay Island, between 80 and 200 m deep. Only known from the type locality. Specimen have been dredged from a depth in between 80 and 200 m.