Hello,
 
I am writing from Italy, and would like to know if all of your pearls come from China?
 Thank You,

Francisco
 

Dear Francisco,
 Thank you for your interest in PurePearls.com! Our Freshwater pearl inventory is all Chinese in origin; as far as saltwater Akoya pearls go, a rule of thumb to go by when dealing with any vendor that you come into contact with, be it online or in a brick and mortar retail location, is the vast, vast majority of the smaller Akoya pearls (sizes 6.0-7.5mm) that you can purchase today will be Chinese in origin.
 
The Japanese exclusively farm larger-sized Akoya pearls (sizes 7.5-9.5mm); they have mastered the science of culturing the larger sizes inside the small P. martensii oyster, which has trouble tolerating the necessarily large shell-bead nucleus- the mortality rate is quite high for these oysters simply due to the fact that the animal is not anatomically suited to producing pearls above 7.5mm- ultimately, the Japanese farmers find it more expedient and economically feasible to make these rare, large sizes their specialty.
 
Chinese farmers have been culturing fine quality Akoya in the smaller sizes for a few decades now, and have much cheaper costs of doing business than the Japanese. Often what happens is the Japanese import the Chinese product, and then exports them out internationally after tagging the pearls with the Blue Tag which reads Product of Japan. Since gemological laboratory reports are not able to definitively determine origin, and because Chinese farming and processing techniques have become so sophisticated and now rival Japanese farmers in terms of quality and workmanship, many unsuspecting consumers purchase small Chinese Akoya under the mistaken impression that their pearls were Japanese.

Hi Everybody! Our Featured Strand for May is this absolutely gorgeous Tahitian Baroque Necklace that is literally drenched in color! Intense Blue and Green Overtones with kisses of shimmering Orient and a bright, crisp Luster definitely make this strand a Collector’s Item! This 18-inch strand of AAA Quality pearls are Drop-Shaped featuring unique rings and measures 9.0-10.6mm with minimal blemishing. These pearls are a part of the Brand New Inventory of Tahitian Baroque pearls that we recently received, each strand is listed at an amazing price that makes them very hard to resist!! Each necklace pictured on our site is unique and a testament to the beauty of the world around us. Whether you are looking for a Riot of Color or the sleek subtlety of Silver, we have the gorgeous, high-quality pearls for every taste and style, at a range of prices that start as low as $450.00!!  

TAH-1593-PURE $1,150.00

Hi Everybody!

Ashley McNamara here, and I have some terrific news! Amanda Raab, the owner of PurePearls.com, has delivered her first baby girl into the world! Welcome Avery, we can’t wait for you to come out and play!! May is the month for Mothers all over the world, and we just want to say “Thanks, Mom!” for all of the love, hard work, blood, sweat and tears that go into raising a strong and wonderful families.

Mostly, I’d like to say: Congratulations, Amanda on your very first Mother’s Day!!