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Cultured Akoya Pearl Grading
Although an internationally recognized and accepted system for grading akoya pearls has yet to be developed, PearlParadise.com utilizes and abides by the world’s most accepted standard of A-AAA.
Please note, PearlParadise.com does not subscribe to superfluous grades such as AAA+ and AAAA. These are not industry accepted grades.
Pearl Grade |
Grading Description and Criteria
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Hanadama is the Japanese word for spherical flower and is the highest attainable grading for akoya pearls as described by the Mikimoto Pearl Company, the original producers of akoya pearls. Each hanadama-grade strand of akoya pearls must be accompanied by an individual, numbered certificate from the Pearl Science Laboratory of Japan to be sold as "hanadama grade".
- Surface exhibits minimal to no visible inclusions*
- Shape is perfect round
- Luster is strong to very strong
- Pearl exhibits sharp reflection
- Nacre determined by optical fiber to be greater than .4 mm per radius
- Matching is excellent
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AAA |
- At least 95% of pearl’s surface is clean
- Shape is perfect round
- Luster is strong to very strong
- Pearl exhibits sharp reflection
- Nacre is visibly thick
- Matching is excellent
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AA+ |
- At least 90% of pearl’s surface is clean
- Shape is perfect round
- Luster is good to strong
- Pearl exhibits good to sharp reflection
- Nacre is visibly thick
- Matching is good to excellent
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AA |
- At least 80% of pearl’s surface is clean
- Shape is perfect round
- Luster is good to medium
- Pearl exhibits good to medium reflection
- Nacre depth is medium
- Matching is good to excellent
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A |
- At least 70% of pearl’s surface is clean
- Shape is round to near round
- Luster is poor to medium (chalky appearance)
- Pearl exhibits good to medium reflection
- Nacre depth is thin
- Matching is fair to excellent
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*The Pearl Science Laboratory does not allow or apply a grading of "flawless” or "perfectly clean" on strands of akoya pearls. |
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