| Some of the most popular pearls today are saltwater | | | | of the best. A typical Akoya pearl will have about 5% |
| Akoya pearls. They were pioneered and perfected by | | | | off its surface covered with blemishes. Many times, |
| Kokichi Mikimoto back in the early 20th century. Akoya | | | | these blemishes aren't visible to the untrained eye and |
| pearls are among the most beautiful of these jewels | | | | are still very high quality. Less than 1% of the |
| and create gorgeous, lustrous jewelry. These pearls | | | | Hanadama pearl's surface has blemishes. This makes |
| are usually relatively small in shape, so they are | | | | them very shiny, very colorful and very valuable. |
| typically almost always perfectly round. They also | | | | The certificate that accompanies Hanadama pearls is |
| come in tons of colors like white, ivory, rose and | | | | issued by the Pearl Science Laboratory of Japan. This |
| lavender. | | | | certificate must come with any pearls deemed to be |
| There has been a new term coined recently that | | | | Hanadama. If it doesn't come with a certificate, it isn't |
| describes the absolute best Akoya pearls from each | | | | Hanadama. Also, keep in mind that a Hanadama pearl |
| harvest. These pearls are known as Hanadamas and | | | | is the best that you can find anywhere, there is no |
| represent only about 0.1% of each harvest. Any true | | | | pearl better. If a dealer tries to tell you they have a |
| specimen will come with its own certificate of | | | | strand that is higher quality than a Hanadama, they are |
| authenticity from Tokyo, Japan. Be wary of any | | | | wrong. In order to deem a strand of pearls as |
| retailer claiming to sell Hanadama pearls and make | | | | Hanadama quality, there are many tests performed. |
| sure you get your certificate. Since they are so | | | | The pearl's surface is examined under magnification |
| valuable and rare, it can be tempting for dishonest | | | | for any inclusions, the quality and depth of the nacre is |
| retailers to claim a stock of these beauties. | | | | checked and the luster is graded by a comparison |
| Hanadamas are sometimes referred to as "flower | | | | test. If the pearls exceed each of these tests, they |
| pearls" because the literal translation of Hanadama is | | | | can be deemed Hanadama quality. |
| "spherical flower". These pearls are definitely the best | | | | |