TRUE AAA Quality 8mm x 8.5 mm 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 "AAA Quality Pearls" shown in this necklace exhibit very high luster.

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 is, 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.  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 very clean. In keeping with this strict selection system, American Pearl does not deal with very blemished, marked pearls. Blemished pearls whose surfaces show imperfections, pitting, spots or other irregularities are worth half the value of cleaner unblemished pearls. Because the pearls we purchase from our farmers consistently and continuously for the last 50 years are the top of the harvest, you can be sure that the pearls offered to you from American Pearl are the best. As America's leading pearl company, it has become the mantra of our founder, Charlie Bakhash, to offer our customers the cleanest finest quality pearls in the world—A reputation we have earned through the cleanliness of our pearls.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS CULTURED PEARL STRAND

This fine quality pearl strand contains pearls that are matched for bodycolor, luster, shape and overtone. This strand earns the TRUE AAA quality grade which is the highest grade of the (1) A, (2) A+, (3) AA and (4) AAA grading system popularized by Mikimoto. 

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 cleaner pearls, American Pearl is renowned for selling you the whitest bodycolor pearls with your choice of a silver (known as white) 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. 



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. Experts recommend 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 owners of American Pearl sell their pearl's to the finest stores, 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.

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.