Understanding how pearls are graded reveals the precision behind their beauty.
At PEARL VOGUE, each grade reflects a delicate balance of luster, surface perfection, nacre depth, and symmetry — the qualities that define the world’s finest pearls.
Pearl Grading
日本のアコヤガイ
Description:
Japanese Akoya pearls are cultured pearls produced by the Pinctada fucata martensii oyster and are traditionally evaluated using nacre-based grading standards.
Their value is determined by a balance of luster quality, nacre thickness, surface cleanliness, and roundness.
In high-grade Akoya pearls, luster and nacre thickness are considered more important than size, as superior nacre is responsible for the mirror-like reflection and long-term durability of the pearl.
Certifications such as Hanadama and Aurora Hanadama represent pearls that meet the highest visual and structural criteria, with independently verified brilliance, surface quality, and nacre depth.
While size and overtone influence aesthetic preference, the finest Akoya pearls are defined by optical sharpness, consistency, and precision rather than scale, reflecting Japan’s meticulous pearl cultivation and grading tradition.
ホワイト＆ゴールデンサウスシー
Description:
South Sea pearls are cultivated primarily in the waters of Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, produced by the Pinctada maxima oyster.
They are valued for their large size, soft satin-like luster, and naturally thick nacre.
In high-grade South Sea pearls, overall presence—defined by size, luster quality, and nacre depth—is considered more important than perfect surface uniformity.
Minor natural characteristics are acceptable when they do not detract from the pearl’s visual harmony and glow.
Due to their slow growth cycle and limited annual harvest, exceptional South Sea pearls are evaluated as individual gems, with emphasis on proportion, luminosity, and rarity rather than standardized benchmarks.
タヒチアン
Description:
Tahitian pearls are cultivated in French Polynesia and produced by the Pinctada margaritifera oyster.
While often referred to as “black pearls,” their value lies in a spectrum of natural dark body colors combined with complex overtones.
In high-grade Tahitian pearls, color depth, overtone complexity, and luster are considered more important than absolute darkness or uniform hue.
Pearls exhibiting peacock, green, aubergine, or multi-hued overtones are particularly prized when paired with sharp surface reflection.
Rather than being defined by a single color standard, the finest Tahitian pearls are evaluated for optical richness, balance, and individuality, reflecting the diverse natural palette of Polynesian waters.
GRANPEARL / SUPEARL PEPCAによる
日本真珠輸出加工協同組合（PEPCA）は、消費者の信頼を高めるために、2008年5月から最高品質のアコヤ真珠の試験サービスを提供しています。専門家のチームが厳格な基準に従って高品質の真珠をテストします。最高品質のもののみが「厳選された」真珠に分類されます。
実際、その数は テストのために送られる真珠の数は限られており、それらのイヤリングは「特別に選択された」ラベルがさらに不足しています。 2008年から2016年にかけて、平均してわずか184本の真珠が「特別選択」に分類されました。年間55万本の真珠の生産のうち、「特別に選ばれた」と認められたものは0.03％に過ぎず、その希少性と重要性を表しています。
PEPCAは2010年に「特別に選択された」真珠の証明書の発行を開始し、真珠の等級付けはその後2017年8月に「 SUPEARL 」と「 GRANPEARL 」に分類されました。
分類
新しい等級の基準に準拠して、「特別に選択」真珠のようにみなされている「 GRANPEARL 」 と命名され、最高の品質と希少性のそれらのに対し、 「 SUPEARL 」 。
PEPCAは強調しました その「 GRANPEARL 」と「 SUPEARL 」の製品は、間違いなく厳選されたテストを経た最高級の真珠です。
ゴールデンパールとシルバーパールのラベルも、新しいグレーディングシステムを容易にするために設計されました。さらに、この組織は、展示会で真珠を宣伝および展示する際の利便性を確保するために、「特別に選択された」真珠分類レポートを縮小しました。
真珠の等級付け基準では、真珠層の品質、光沢、形状、欠陥、色の5つの基準が考慮されています。グレーディング基準は、アコヤ真珠、南洋真珠、 とタヒチ真珠。
PEPCAの5〜8人の専門家のチームが、最高品質のものを選択する前に、上記の等級付けベンチマークを使用して真珠を検査します。
近年の市場での「新しい」名前の真珠製品の急増によって引き起こされた混乱に対処するために、PEPCAはそのようなラベルが独自の基準に従って民間機関によって与えられたことを明らかにしました。
ホワイト＆ゴールデンサウスシー
Description:
Conch pearls are entirely natural, non-nacreous gemstones formed within the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas).
Unlike cultured pearls, they do not follow nacre-based grading systems.
Conch pearl grading is based on visual evaluation, with primary emphasis on flame pattern definition, color saturation, and overall optical presence.
In practice, in collector-grade conch pearls, flame pattern clarity and color intensity are considered more important than absolute surface perfection.
Minor natural characteristics, when they do not interrupt flame continuity or overall form, are generally accepted among serious collectors.
Due to their extreme rarity—fewer than one in ten thousand Queen Conch naturally produce pearls, and only a small fraction meet collector standards—each high-quality conch pearl is evaluated as an individual gem rather than against mass-market benchmarks.
ホワイト＆ゴールデンサウスシー
Description:
Mabe pearls are cultured blister pearls formed against the shell of the oyster, resulting in a distinctive domed silhouette rather than a full spherical shape.
They are valued for their large visual presence, luminous surface, and sculptural profile.
In high-quality Mabe pearls, luster clarity, dome symmetry, and surface integrity are considered more important than thickness or traditional roundness.
Their appeal lies in visual impact and design versatility rather than conventional pearl grading metrics.
When expertly selected and set, Mabe pearls offer a refined balance of scale, light reflection, and artistic expression, making them particularly suited for statement rings, pendants, and contemporary high jewelry designs.