Notice that the Pearl Science Laboratory issues Hanadama certificates that all feature a range of “very slight imperfections” or “very strong luster”. There is a lot that can fall within that range – and pearl markets have been flooded with just-barely-made-it certified strands and even fake certifications.
What’s a pearl buyer to do?
Price Isn’t Everything – the old adage that you get what you pay for holds true today, even in the world of online bargains. If you spot a Hanadama strand with suspiciously-low price points, it may just be a lower-quality strand falling on the low end of the certification, or it may not actually be a certified strand at all.
The picture below shows one of our 8.0-8.5mm Hanadama Akoya necklaces compared to a competitor’s we purchased for a few hundred less than ours is listed for – the difference in luster, surface quality and iridescence is instantly noticeable.