Pearls by Angela Carol
Are your Akoya pearls Japanese?
{ 7:28 AM, Friday, June 22, 2007 }
{ Posted in Akoya Pearls }
{ Link }
This has to be one of the most frequently asked questions.Our Pearls are sourced from different locations depending on the size of the pearl. As you know, Akoya Pearls are produced both in China and in Japan. Japanese pearl farms sell only to pearl factories (not to wholesalers or retailers). In addition, currently Japan is one of the largest importers of Chinese Akoya 7.5mm and below in the world. In fact most of the farms in China were originally set up by the Japanese due to lower labor and material costs. Just because a strand of pearl are purchased from a Japanese pearl factory, it does not mean that they are Japanese pearls. The Japanese pearl factories lump all the Akoya Pearls together, then sort them and grade them. Any given strand of Akoya 7.5mm and smaller that is purchased from a Japanese processing factory will be 75% to 80% Akoya from China. The culturing process is the same, the oysters they are cultured in are the same and the Japanese themselves view them as the same. Given the fact that 75% to 80% of the pearls in a single strand will originate from China, we source pearls that are 7.5mm and below directly from there. This allows up to offer then to you a lower prices.
Pearls that are 8.0mm and above are still primarily Japanese because the Chinese do not produce them in large enough quantity as of yet. The farms that are still in Japan also focus on a single size. For these size pearls, they are sourced from the factories in Japan and they are cultured in Japan.
While you are shopping for pearls, be wary of any retailer or wholesaler that will guarantee you that Akoya Pearls 7.5mm and smaller are 100% Japanese Akoya. There is no test, certification or document that will specify the country of origin. Made in Japan is not the same as cultured in Japan. If a strand of Akoya pearls are imported from China, sorted and graded, and then strung for bulk sale, the Japanese can label them as "made in Japan".
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