8mm x 8.5mm "AA1 Quality" Japanese Akoya Cultured Pearl Necklace
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- Item #: 885NAA1
Retail Price: $8,010
Our Price: $1,100
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8mm x 8.5mm "AA1 Quality" Japanese Akoya Cultured Pearl Necklace
ABOUT THIS NECKLACE
This 8 x 8.5mm natural color Japanese Akoya cultured pearl 16 Inch necklace is American Pearl's second best selling size. A classic strand that nicely straddles the rarity brackets because it's the first size of the larger, rarer harvests. So it says "I jumped to the next price tier" without actually jumping too exorbitantly. From here on up, the prices climb much more steeply than they do through the much more common first five sizes. Anything larger than those has to stay in the waters twice as long to have a shot at growing that large. The sizes from 8 x 8.5mm up therefore become exponentially harder to harvest, therefore exponentially rarer, and therefore exponentially more valuable. This size is more important-looking and expensive-looking than 7.5 x 8mm; it screams "successful woman here!" It can be worn with everyday wear yet also looks the part at a black-tie event, where a 7.5 x 8mm might look somewhat skimpy. It also makes for a good strand for collectors and investors; the doubly long submergence serves to protect the pearls' price and gives them the best chance to appreciate in value over time.
ABOUT THE QUALITY
The "AA1 Quality Pearls" shown in this necklace exhibit high luster and have thick nacre (the skin of the pearl). In fact, nacre thickness and luster are directly correlated. In order for a finer quality Japanese Akoya cultured pearl to have very high luster, it must have thick nacre. According to the Gemological Institute of America, pearls with high luster (AA1 Quality) must have at least 0.45 millimeters of nacre thickness on most of the pearls.
PURCHASE THE FINEST QUALITY PEARLS IN YOUR PRICE RANGE
American Pearl always advises you to purchase the finest quality pearls in your price range; even if this means stepping down to a smaller size more brilliant pearl. There are numerous reasons why this holds true. Finer quality pearls have more of the qualities for which people are enamored with pearls in the first place. That is, they are more beautiful as they exhibit higher luster. Beauty is the paramount quality of any jewelry or gem that secures its value. The more beautiful a gem has the more valuable it is. Finer quality pearls therefore have the best chance in holding their value and appreciating in value over time. In addition to beauty and value, finer quality pearls are more durable. In order for a strand of pearls to exhibit higher luster, it must have a thicker nacre. Nacre is the so called "skin" of a pearl and luster and nacre thickness are directly correlated. Lastly, because finer quality pearls are indeed more beautiful, they will be enjoyed more. Hence, this is why purchasing the finest quality pearls in your price range is always the wisest choice.
ABOUT SURFACE QUALITY
At American Pearl, we want you to know that whatever pearl strand you choose, you can be sure that the pearls on your necklace will be unblemished. This is the message that our company publishes to our customers.
However, the Mikimoto store recently introduced a new line of cultured pearls known as the "ONE" line that have the same exact characteristics as the AAA, AA, A+ and A grading system that you might be familiar with. In fact, this new "ONE" line of cultured pearl necklaces exhibit the exact same luster, bodycolor, shape, nacre thickness and overtones as the AAA, AA, A+ and A pearls. Except within this new "ONE" line of pearls, the pearls are slightly blemished (95% inclusion free) and therefore sell at half the selling price of the unblemished pearl line. Accordingly, this new grading system or "ONE" line offered by Mikimoto is referred to as such: AAA1, AA1, A+1 and A1. Each grade has a numeral one at the end of its label to denote the difference in surface quality from unblemished to blemished.
Knowing that the "ONE" line of pearls that are 95% inclusion free sell for half-price of the regular line is logical. According to the the Gemological Institute of America (The non-profit organization that is the unmistakable sole authority for grading pearls, diamonds and colored stones) blemished pearls are worth half the price of their unblemished counterparts.
Time and time again, consumers unknowingly purchase pearls they think are AAA quality that are actually AAA1 quality (95% inclusion free). Purchasing a strand of pearls that you think is AAA that is actually AAA1 is like buying a stock without knowing its price. Or consider purchasing a piece of real estate without knowing its location. The analogy is the same for pearls, except this time, it is cleanliness of the pearl's surface that is the key factor in determining its value.
Even though American Pearl recommends that you purchase the finest quality pearls in your price range, we are offering the "ONE" line to consumers as a benchmark for comparison and to keep consistent with Mikimoto's offerings. In addition, we are offering the "ONE" line to consumers who don't mind the blemishing but do mind purchasing from sellers that advertise AAA, AA, A+ and A quality only to learn that the pearls are 95% inclusion free. Please make no mistake about it. The regular line of cultured pearls offered by Mikimoto (AAA, AA, A+ and A) are unblemished. The "ONE" line of pearls have slight blemishing (95% inclusion free).
A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS CULTURED PEARL STRAND
This fine quality pearl strand contains pearls that are perfectly matched for bodycolor, luster, shape and overtone. This strand earns the AA1 quality grade which is the second highest grade of the (1) A1, (2) A+1, (3) AA1 and (4) AAA1 grading system popularized by Mikimoto. Be especially cautious of pearls that are advertised as "AA+" or "AAAA" that break from the standard grading system popularized by fine jewelry stores. These trumped-up grades seek to mislead consumers into purchasing qualities that do not exist.
Generally speaking, the finer the grade, the more luster the pearls exhibit. Luster is defined as the mirror like quality of a pearl and really is the single characteristic that draws people to pearls. Technically, luster is defined as the amount of light that reflects off of the pearl's surface and reaches your eye.
WHITE BODYCOLOR PEARLS ARE WORTH MORE
In addition to selling you clean pearls, American Pearl is renowned for selling you the whitest bodycolor pearls with your choice of a silver or rose overtone. American Pearl does not sell you yellow creamy pearls. White Bodycolor pearls (with your choice of silver or rose overtones) are the most valuable bodycolor pearls in the marketplace compared to their light cream counterparts. Many consumers unknowingly purchase a strand with a slightly light cream or yellowish bodycolor to the pearl which are worth considerably less. In fact, according to the the Gemological Institute of America, pearls with a light cream bodycolor are worth 40% less than pearls with a white bodycolor. So examine the pearls you are considering very carefully. Are they creamy? Yellowish? Or are they white? Be especially doubtful of pearls that claim to be "bright white" or other made up names that are not part of the official nomenclature used by the Gemological Institute of America as shown by the chart below:
EXAMINING PEARLS UNDER CONTROLLED LIGHTING
When examining a strand of pearls, it is advised that you do so under a controlled setting for grading pearls. The Gemological Institute of America, through their course work and literature, recommends that you always examine your pearls under a fluorescent light against an either white or grey background. A glass surface is the least effective area on which to examine pearls as the bodycolor of the pearls in question is difficult to detect. In fact, when the owner's of American Pearl sell their pearl's to Tiffany & Co., it is our experience that they always use a fluorescent lamp for grading. This setting creates a neutral environment where the nuances in bodycolor—from white to light cream—can be identified. Because a pearl's surface is so reflective, one must consider very carefully the light source used to examine and grade pearls.
THE PEARL MIRAGE
One should be particularly skeptical of an incandescent light source used for the grading of pearls. Incandescent light, by its very nature, shows a fuller distribution of color from the color spectrum. When used in the grading of pearls, one may be associating attributes to the reflective qualities of the pearl's surface that are in actuality originating from the light source. This PEARL MIRAGE does not take place under fluorescent lights.
The most valuable lesson to be learned here is that upon the examination of pearls, make sure you are grading the pearls, not the light source. The quality and awe of a fine quality pearl seen under a fluorescent lamp will be obvious. Because pearls have hundreds of concentric layers of skin (what we call nacre) that are translucent, reflecting light as well as allowing light to pass through each layer, a "play-of-light" is achieved on the surface of a pearl which gives PEARLS the very qualities for which people have marveled in awe over them.
It is for this reason that pearls with bodycolors of white are featured at American Pearl, Tiffany & Co. and Mikimoto. They are the most valuable in the world.
NECKLACE LENGTH AND GRADUATION
This necklace comes standard length at 16 inches long which includes the clasp. If you are looking for a longer strand, please click the pop-up menu located below near the order button to choose any length up to 51 inches.
All the pearls begin at 8 millimeters on either end of the necklace and slowly graduate to 8.5mm millimeters in the necklace's center. These pearls were farmed in the saltwater oceans off the shores of Japan. This is where the inventor of the cultured pearl made his first round cultured pearl that changed the world.
ABOUT THIS NECKLACE
This 8 x 8.5mm natural color Japanese Akoya cultured pearl 16 Inch necklace is American Pearl's second best selling size. A classic strand that nicely straddles the rarity brackets because it's the first size of the larger, rarer harvests. So it says "I jumped to the next price tier" without actually jumping too exorbitantly. From here on up, the prices climb much more steeply than they do through the much more common first five sizes. Anything larger than those has to stay in the waters twice as long to have a shot at growing that large. The sizes from 8 x 8.5mm up therefore become exponentially harder to harvest, therefore exponentially rarer, and therefore exponentially more valuable. This size is more important-looking and expensive-looking than 7.5 x 8mm; it screams "successful woman here!" It can be worn with everyday wear yet also looks the part at a black-tie event, where a 7.5 x 8mm might look somewhat skimpy. It also makes for a good strand for collectors and investors; the doubly long submergence serves to protect the pearls' price and gives them the best chance to appreciate in value over time.
ABOUT THE QUALITY
The "AA1 Quality Pearls" shown in this necklace exhibit high luster and have thick nacre (the skin of the pearl). In fact, nacre thickness and luster are directly correlated. In order for a finer quality Japanese Akoya cultured pearl to have very high luster, it must have thick nacre. According to the Gemological Institute of America, pearls with high luster (AA1 Quality) must have at least 0.45 millimeters of nacre thickness on most of the pearls.
PURCHASE THE FINEST QUALITY PEARLS IN YOUR PRICE RANGE
American Pearl always advises you to purchase the finest quality pearls in your price range; even if this means stepping down to a smaller size more brilliant pearl. There are numerous reasons why this holds true. Finer quality pearls have more of the qualities for which people are enamored with pearls in the first place. That is, they are more beautiful as they exhibit higher luster. Beauty is the paramount quality of any jewelry or gem that secures its value. The more beautiful a gem has the more valuable it is. Finer quality pearls therefore have the best chance in holding their value and appreciating in value over time. In addition to beauty and value, finer quality pearls are more durable. In order for a strand of pearls to exhibit higher luster, it must have a thicker nacre. Nacre is the so called "skin" of a pearl and luster and nacre thickness are directly correlated. Lastly, because finer quality pearls are indeed more beautiful, they will be enjoyed more. Hence, this is why purchasing the finest quality pearls in your price range is always the wisest choice.
ABOUT SURFACE QUALITY
At American Pearl, we want you to know that whatever pearl strand you choose, you can be sure that the pearls on your necklace will be unblemished. This is the message that our company publishes to our customers.
However, the Mikimoto store recently introduced a new line of cultured pearls known as the "ONE" line that have the same exact characteristics as the AAA, AA, A+ and A grading system that you might be familiar with. In fact, this new "ONE" line of cultured pearl necklaces exhibit the exact same luster, bodycolor, shape, nacre thickness and overtones as the AAA, AA, A+ and A pearls. Except within this new "ONE" line of pearls, the pearls are slightly blemished (95% inclusion free) and therefore sell at half the selling price of the unblemished pearl line. Accordingly, this new grading system or "ONE" line offered by Mikimoto is referred to as such: AAA1, AA1, A+1 and A1. Each grade has a numeral one at the end of its label to denote the difference in surface quality from unblemished to blemished.
Knowing that the "ONE" line of pearls that are 95% inclusion free sell for half-price of the regular line is logical. According to the the Gemological Institute of America (The non-profit organization that is the unmistakable sole authority for grading pearls, diamonds and colored stones) blemished pearls are worth half the price of their unblemished counterparts.
Time and time again, consumers unknowingly purchase pearls they think are AAA quality that are actually AAA1 quality (95% inclusion free). Purchasing a strand of pearls that you think is AAA that is actually AAA1 is like buying a stock without knowing its price. Or consider purchasing a piece of real estate without knowing its location. The analogy is the same for pearls, except this time, it is cleanliness of the pearl's surface that is the key factor in determining its value.
Even though American Pearl recommends that you purchase the finest quality pearls in your price range, we are offering the "ONE" line to consumers as a benchmark for comparison and to keep consistent with Mikimoto's offerings. In addition, we are offering the "ONE" line to consumers who don't mind the blemishing but do mind purchasing from sellers that advertise AAA, AA, A+ and A quality only to learn that the pearls are 95% inclusion free. Please make no mistake about it. The regular line of cultured pearls offered by Mikimoto (AAA, AA, A+ and A) are unblemished. The "ONE" line of pearls have slight blemishing (95% inclusion free).
A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS CULTURED PEARL STRAND
This fine quality pearl strand contains pearls that are perfectly matched for bodycolor, luster, shape and overtone. This strand earns the AA1 quality grade which is the second highest grade of the (1) A1, (2) A+1, (3) AA1 and (4) AAA1 grading system popularized by Mikimoto. Be especially cautious of pearls that are advertised as "AA+" or "AAAA" that break from the standard grading system popularized by fine jewelry stores. These trumped-up grades seek to mislead consumers into purchasing qualities that do not exist.
Generally speaking, the finer the grade, the more luster the pearls exhibit. Luster is defined as the mirror like quality of a pearl and really is the single characteristic that draws people to pearls. Technically, luster is defined as the amount of light that reflects off of the pearl's surface and reaches your eye.
WHITE BODYCOLOR PEARLS ARE WORTH MORE
In addition to selling you clean pearls, American Pearl is renowned for selling you the whitest bodycolor pearls with your choice of a silver or rose overtone. American Pearl does not sell you yellow creamy pearls. White Bodycolor pearls (with your choice of silver or rose overtones) are the most valuable bodycolor pearls in the marketplace compared to their light cream counterparts. Many consumers unknowingly purchase a strand with a slightly light cream or yellowish bodycolor to the pearl which are worth considerably less. In fact, according to the the Gemological Institute of America, pearls with a light cream bodycolor are worth 40% less than pearls with a white bodycolor. So examine the pearls you are considering very carefully. Are they creamy? Yellowish? Or are they white? Be especially doubtful of pearls that claim to be "bright white" or other made up names that are not part of the official nomenclature used by the Gemological Institute of America as shown by the chart below:
EXAMINING PEARLS UNDER CONTROLLED LIGHTING
When examining a strand of pearls, it is advised that you do so under a controlled setting for grading pearls. The Gemological Institute of America, through their course work and literature, recommends that you always examine your pearls under a fluorescent light against an either white or grey background. A glass surface is the least effective area on which to examine pearls as the bodycolor of the pearls in question is difficult to detect. In fact, when the owner's of American Pearl sell their pearl's to Tiffany & Co., it is our experience that they always use a fluorescent lamp for grading. This setting creates a neutral environment where the nuances in bodycolor—from white to light cream—can be identified. Because a pearl's surface is so reflective, one must consider very carefully the light source used to examine and grade pearls.
THE PEARL MIRAGE
One should be particularly skeptical of an incandescent light source used for the grading of pearls. Incandescent light, by its very nature, shows a fuller distribution of color from the color spectrum. When used in the grading of pearls, one may be associating attributes to the reflective qualities of the pearl's surface that are in actuality originating from the light source. This PEARL MIRAGE does not take place under fluorescent lights.
The most valuable lesson to be learned here is that upon the examination of pearls, make sure you are grading the pearls, not the light source. The quality and awe of a fine quality pearl seen under a fluorescent lamp will be obvious. Because pearls have hundreds of concentric layers of skin (what we call nacre) that are translucent, reflecting light as well as allowing light to pass through each layer, a "play-of-light" is achieved on the surface of a pearl which gives PEARLS the very qualities for which people have marveled in awe over them.
It is for this reason that pearls with bodycolors of white are featured at American Pearl, Tiffany & Co. and Mikimoto. They are the most valuable in the world.
NECKLACE LENGTH AND GRADUATION
This necklace comes standard length at 16 inches long which includes the clasp. If you are looking for a longer strand, please click the pop-up menu located below near the order button to choose any length up to 51 inches.
All the pearls begin at 8 millimeters on either end of the necklace and slowly graduate to 8.5mm millimeters in the necklace's center. These pearls were farmed in the saltwater oceans off the shores of Japan. This is where the inventor of the cultured pearl made his first round cultured pearl that changed the world.