Making the Beauty of Pearls Available and Affordable to Everyone
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| Cultured Akoya Pearl Grading |
Although an internationally recognized and accepted system for grading akoya pearls has yet to be developed, PearlParadise.com utilizes and abides by the world’s most accepted standard of A-AAA.
Please note, PearlParadise.com does not subscribe to superfluous grades such as AAA+ and AAAA. These are not industry accepted grades.
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| Pearl Grade |
Description |
| Hanadama |
Hanadama is the Japanese word for spherical flower and is the highest attainable grading for akoya pearls as described by the Mikimoto Pearl Company, the original producers of akoya pearls. Each hanadama-grade strand of akoya pearls must be accompanied by an individual, numbered certificate from the Pearl Science Laboratory of Japan to be sold as "hanadama grade".
Surface exhibits minimal to no visible inclusions*
Shape is perfect round
Luster is strong to very strong
Pearl exhibits sharp reflection
Nacre determined by optical fiber to be greater than 0.4 mm per radius
Excellent matching |
| AAA |
At least 95% of pearl’s surface is clean
Shape is perfect round
Luster is strong to very strong
Pearl exhibits sharp reflection
Nacre is visibly thick
Excellent matching |
| AA+ |
At least 90% of pearl’s surface is clean
Shape is perfect round
Luster is good to strong
Pearl exhibits good to sharp reflection
Nacre is visibly thick
Matching is good to excellent |
| AA |
At least 80% of pearl’s surface is clean
Shape is perfect round
Luster is good to medium
Pearl exhibits good to medium reflection
Nacre depth is medium
Matching is good to excellent |
| A |
At least 70% of pearl’s surface is clean
Shape is round to near round
Luster is poor to medium (chalky appearance)
Pearl exhibits good to medium reflection
Nacre depth is thin
Matching is fair to excellent |
| *The Pearl Science Laboratory does not allow or apply a grading of "flawless” or "perfectly clean" on strands of akoya pearls. |
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