Anyone who knows me knows that I am a lifelong Jewelry Junkie.

My particular interest (and where I got my major start) is in precious colored gemstones – with Burmese Rubies topping my List of Amazing Things I Love.

There’s just something about them that grabs the eye, stills your breath and quickens your pulse.

I’ve always been able to just … fall into its depths and never want to come back up.

I mean LOOK at that! WOW … knowing gems the way I do, I’m 100% positive that this photograph does not do this Ruby justice.

 

They are utterly incomparable in their beauty – looking at a fine Pigeon’s Blood Ruby (especially if it’s a BIG one!) is literally a physical and emotional experience.

 

Which Brings Us to My Hanadama Pearls

Indisputably, the Japanese Hanadama Akoya pearls are the “Pigeon Bloods” of the pearl world.

Rare.

Incredibly Lustrous.

Beautifully Iridescent.

Absolutely Gorgeous.

These are THE pearls to own.

The ones that get stares from across the room

The ones that start “keeping up with the Jones’” wars.

If South Sea pearls are the “Queen” of pearls, then Hanadama pearls are what every Queen wants around her neck and decorating her ears.

 

 

 

So, What Exactly Are Hanadama Pearls?

Hanadama pearls are the cream of the crop of each yearly saltwater Japanese Akoya pearl harvest. These are pearls that are set aside immediately after harvest due to their exceptional Luster, Clean Surface, Nacre Depth and fine iridescent Orient shimmering over their surfaces.

Each matched pair of pearls or 18-Inch perfectly matched pearl necklace is sent to the Pearl Science Laboratory of Tokyo, Japan for gemological testing and certification.

The gemological test includes:

• X-ray Examination: Measuring Nacre Depth (must be .80mm MINIMUM to qualify)
• Teri-Value: Rate of Brightness and Luster
• Orient: Amount and Quality of Auroral Orient Effect
• Surface Quality: Only 1 Deep Inclusion is Allowable to Make the Cut

What makes or breaks these pearls as “the best of the best” is of course, LUSTER.

The Luster on Hanadama Akoya pearls must be the absolute BEST in order to qualify for the Hanadama Collection title.

Owning a strand of Hanadama pearls are the pearls is like purchasing a Mikimoto-level strand of pearls (starting at $30,000 by the way!) but for a FRACTION of the price. Yes, they’re THAT gorgeous.

 

Close up on the surface quality and Orient of our Hanadama pearls

So … Where Is This All Leading, Ashley?!

Well!

I‘ll tell you right now.

I am always collecting and bringing in amazing new lots of fine Traditional and Untreated, Natural Color Hanadama Pearls from a private dealer in Japan.

Everyone should get a chance to own these spectacular PSL Certified pearls, in my opinion.

Psst: A note to future Pearl Ninjas:

I wrote an in-depth Buyer's Guide to Hanadama Pearls which:

1. Breaks down the grading standards for these pearls
2. Features an explanation of what the PSL Certs actually ARE
3. How these pearls compare against AAA Quality pearls AND other vendors

 

 

And of course, features TONS of my real-life Hanadama pearl photography, so you can get a good visual idea of what makes these pearls SO very special. Google loves this page, and my competition absolutely HATES it.

I think you'll find it's worth a click or two. 

If you want to skip the gemology lessons, and just get to the fun part (Jewelry Shopping, Yay!!), you can start by checking out my Hanadama Pearl Collections by clicking the image below: