Choose Your Pearl
- Akoya Pearls
- Freshwater Pearls
- Tahitian Pearls
- South Sea Pearls
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The Classic Pearl
For nearly 100 years, akoya pearls grown off the coast of Japan have been the classic pearl of choice. When one pictures a round strand of white pearls, they are usually thinking of akoya.
Although rare baroque shapes and natural colors like silver-blue and gold do exist, akoya pearls are best known for their perfectly round shape and sharp, reflective luster.
While exceptions do exist, most akoya pearls produced today range in sizes from 4 to 10 mm.
If you are looking for a classic strand of round, white pearls, you are probably looking for a strand of akoya pearls.
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The Fashion-Forward Pearl
The most affordable pearls sold today, freshwater pearls are known for baroque shapes, white and pastel body colors and softer luster than akoya (except in the case of rare metallics).
With natural pastel colors and shapes that range from perfectly round to free-form baroque, freshwater pearls offer a widest range of options.
Common sizes range from 5 mm to 12 mm, but recent advances have led to the development of round and baroque pearls as large as 20 mm.
If you are looking for an affordable piece or something more fashion-forward with unique combinations of colors and shapes, shop freshwater pearls.
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The Dark, Exotic Pearl
Tahitian pearls grown in French Polynesia are the only naturally dark pearls. Although often referred to as black, Tahitian pearls come in a rainbow of exotic colors.
Round Tahitian pearls are quite rare but other fun shapes like drops, baroques and ovals are highly-sought and still considered very valuable.
When measured perpendicular to the drill hole, most Tahitians range in size from 8 mm to 15 mm regardless of shape.
If you are looking for a naturally dark pearls that go well with almost any style, Tahitian pearls may be your best choice.
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The Rolls Royce of Pearls
Grown primarily in Australia the Philippines and Indonesia and ranging in color from white to gold, South Sea pearls are the largest saltwater pearls grown today.
Because of their tremendous size, perfectly round South Sea pearls are quite rare. Other more common shapes are drops, baroques and ovals. All are considered very valuable.
While South Sea pearls range in size from 8 mm to 18 mm, the most common sizes range from 10 mm to 14 mm.
If you looking for the statement piece of jewelry with large pearls, South Sea may be the way to go.
FRESHADAMA PEARLS
Freshadama pearls are the world's highest-quality freshwater pearls. When pearls are sold at a production level, they are separated into several different qualities. Most qualities are considered "necklace" quality. These pearls are sold as matched temporary strands. There is one quality, however, that is treated differently. These pearls are sold loose and undrilled individually. These are the pearls we use to create our freshadama line.
Our line of freshadama pearl jewelry features truly round freshwater pearls with less than 5% deviation from perfect spheres. They exhibit the finest luster with virtually no blemishing or spotting. Every freshadama pearl necklace and freshadama pearl bracelet is finished with a solid, 14-karat Pearl Paradise charm. Our freshadama pearl earrings are set on medium-weight, 14-karat posts.
Our freshadama pearl line has been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres and The Tyra Bank's Show, as well as several industry publications including Pearl World Journal and Colored Stone Magazine.
Not all Hanadama Pearls are Created Equal
Hanadama is a Japanese word coined by the originator of akoya pearl farming nearly 100 years ago. The word literally means “flower pearl” and was used it to describe a quality of pearl that goes above the normal range of “fine” into a range of grade all its own.
But over the years this range has grown and the space between “just making it” and “truly the best of the best” has also grown. This is unfortunate as it certainly isn’t what the originator coined the term to be. Hanadama should always mean the best of the best.
At Pearl Paradise, this is the standard we adhere to.
We really do hanadama differently. Nearly all our AA+ and 100% of our AAA quality pearls could pass hanadama certification, but we don’t submit them. We specifically source hanadama from only two producers in Japan and certify what we know is the best of the best, which is why we guarantee our hanadama to be finer than any others, online or off.
Because not all hanadama pearls are created equal.