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.

Dear Amanda,

I am trying to decide between the two pairs of earrings shown on your website- they are Tahitian Baroques on dangle earrings, AA+ and AAA quality. What’s the difference between the two grades?

Thanks,
Rachel W.
Des Moines, IA

Dear Rachel,

In the world of Tahitian Baroque pearls, the difference between AA+ and AAA can be pretty noticeable! Because baroque pearls are noticeably off-round or tear-drop in shape (or at the far end of the spectrum a free-form shape that sometimes defies geometry!), the main differences fall into a couple of categories: Smoothness of the surface, Blemishing, Circling, Symmetry of Shape and Matching among others. Luster is also a very important factor for many pearl lovers, but there is only a very slight difference between the two grades.

AA+ quality pearls will be well-matched within a millimeter or so, and you can expect to see some inclusions. These will be in the form of dents, divots, pin prick-like spots, and light or darker areas of discoloration, folding of the nacre layers, ridges and depressions. The pearl itself should have no more than 10-15% of its total surface area blemished. Most likely, some circling will be present on the pearls (circling looks like rings or bands around the circumference of the pearl.).

AAA Quality pearls will be very well-matched with little variation between size and shape (again, the pearls should be matched within 1.0mm in size). The pearls themselves should be symmetrical and the surfaces will be very smooth with little to no circling present. AAA quality Tahitian baroque pearls should have no more than 5-10% of its total surface area displaying any blemishes. For baroque pearls, this means that if a pearl is 8.0mm in size you can probably expect to see an inclusion.

Additionally, I would like to take the time to point out that many connoisseurs of cultured pearls consider the growth characteristics of baroque shapes as a testament to that pearls’ unique nature; just like a finger print! Truly flawless pearls only come around once in a lifetime (unless you’re purchasing simulated pearls!), and we should be prepared as lovers of Nature to accept and treasure a pearls’ distinguishing marks as a testament to their origins and their authenticity.

While we work diligently to create gorgeous matches for earrings and strands, and employ pearls that will complement each other visually in terms of color, luster and shape that will delight the wearer, we ask all of our clients to be aware that there will always be variations, however subtle, between these one of a kind works of art from Nature, and to take joy in that individuality. Once you purchase a Tahitian Baroque pearl, it is truly your own!

I hope I have been helpful to you in determining which pearls would be best for you; I find that many of our clients are very satisfied with our AAA Quality, and I highly recommend them! Please feel free to contact me at anytime, and have an excellent day!

Best,

Amanda