Since 2008, the Japan Pearl Export and Processing Cooperative Association (PEPCA) has overseen professional testing and certification for high-quality pearls, ensuring authenticity and consumer trust across Japan’s pearl industry.
Under PEPCA’s strict Select standard, only the most exceptional pearls — typically less than 0.03% of total annual production — achieve official recognition.

Between 2008 and 2017, PEPCA refined its evaluation framework and introduced two ultimate designations:
GRANPEARL and SUPEARL, representing the pinnacle of pearl perfection and rarity.

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Classification:​

• GRANPEARL:

Awarded to pearls of the highest refinement, distinguished by outstanding surface purity, exceptional luster, and harmonious shape.

Each GRANPEARL meets the Select threshold of near-absolute flawlessness — a balance of brilliance and natural authenticity.

• SUPEARL:

Reserved for the rarest among Select pearls — those virtually immaculate even under magnification.
Every SUPEARL embodies nature’s finest equilibrium between luminosity, symmetry, and depth of nacre.
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Evaluation and Standards

PEPCA’s expert committee evaluates each pearl according to five key criteria:
luster, surface quality, shape, imperfections, and color.
Only pearls that surpass all benchmarks receive the Select certification, with the most exceptional advancing to GRANPEARL or SUPEARL distinction.

Each certified strand or loose pearl is accompanied by an official PEPCA Gold or Silver Label, signifying the specific grade achieved.
This dual-tier system enhances transparency for jewelers, collectors, and connoisseurs, distinguishing PEPCA-certified pearls from market variations.
 

Legacy and Significance

Through decades of refinement, PEPCA has established an enduring benchmark for Japanese pearl grading — one that upholds the values of craftsmanship, integrity, and rarity.
Today, the GRANPEARL and SUPEARL designations represent not merely grades, but the culmination of Japan’s pursuit of perfection in cultured pearls.