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ABOUT THIS NECKLACE - COLLECTION QUALITY
This 7.5 x 8mm natural color Japanese Akoya cultured pearl 16 Inch necklace known as COLLECTION QUALITY is one of American Pearl's most popular sizes. American Pearl feels so strongly about this superior quality pearl necklace that each necklace is accompanied by a certificate and a PROOF PEARL taken from the necklace that is cut in half to show you the actual nacre thickness of the pearl so you can see it for yourself by examining this PROOF PEARL when you receive it. Sample grading criteria of the COLLECTION QUALITY pearls can be seen below as well as a sample of the PROOF PEARL you will receive. If you were in a finer jewelry store in AMERICA and mentioned AMERICAN PEARL, the salesperson would explain to you that AMERICAN PEARL is the supplier of the finest quality Japanese Akoya cultured pearls harvested each year from Japan and noted for their superior luster and rose hues. Each year, American Pearl procures these finer quality pearls and offers them to our customers.
AMERICAN PEARL TESTING
AMERICAN PEARL is famous for their detailed examination and testing of cultured pearl strands as they are carefully selected for the Collection Quality Grade.
ABOUT THE SIZE
This 7.5 x 8mm natural color Japanese Akoya cultured pearl necklace is American Pearl's best-selling size, and the last size in the lower bracket of more readily available sizes; a jump to the next size, 8 x 8.5mm, more or less doubles the strand's price. It's really the only size one could call neither "too small" nor "too big." It's a staple of any woman's wardrobe; she can dress it up or dress it down. It's not too showy, and it very tastefully exudes an image of importance; a classic for the upwardly mobile career woman. It also suits very well as a wedding-day gift or a wedding anniversary gift through the fifth year of marriage.
ABOUT THE QUALITY
American Pearl's absolute finest quality cultured pearl strand. Collection quality pearls are the rarest cultured pearls available in the world—representing the finest 1% of pearls from Japan's pearl harvest. Simply regal -- and extremely rare. For a refined, discriminating woman who is serious about her pearls and won't settle for anything but the best. Collection quality pearls will hold their value and appreciate in time. The pearls on this necklace are evenly graduated from 8.5 x 9mm and are affixed with American Pearl's signature 18K yellow gold clasp. These are the finest quality pearls that are available. It is the maximum luster that the oyster can produce. Although AAA quality exhibit VERY HIGH LUSTER, Collection quality pearls have the thickest "nacre" (or skin of the pearl) and therefore produce a level higher known as EXTREMELY HIGH LUSTER. In fact, you can see from an actual photograph of the PROOF PEARL below that the nacre thickness of the pearls is .52mm on each side of the pearl or a total of 1.04mm. This part of the certificate should be critical in your evaluation of these pearls because if offers scientific proof or a benchmark for comparison.
There is a direct relationship between nacre thickness and luster (the mirror-like quality of the pearl). Thicker skinned pearls have higher luster. Also, pearls that have a thicker nacre also weigh more. So a Collection quality strand is actually heavier than a AAA quality.
When American Pearl purchases pearls in volume, we buy by the weight. So the weight of the Collection quality pearls is reflected within the price. Collection quality is for someone who is looking for the absolute best quality available. This means that the pearls, if properly cared for, will truly hold their value and appreciate over time. If one were to shop all the jewelry stores of the world, matching this quality would be extremely difficult. Were you to find it, it would be extremely pricey.
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. In keeping with this strict selection system, American Pearl does not deal with blemished, marked pearls. Blemished pearls whose surfaces show imperfections, pitting, spots or other irregularities are worth half the value of perfectly clean unblemished pearls. Because the pearls we purchase from our farmers consistently and continuously for the last 50 years are the top 1% of the harvest, you can be sure that the pearls offered to you from American Pearl are indeed finer and cleaner than any pearls offered to your from an outside source. 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 flawlessness of our pearls.
Yet, why are we so insistent in boasting about our pearls' superior quality and unblemished surfaces? Time and time again, consumers unknowingly purchase pearls they think are fine quality, yet overlook the most critical factor: the pearl's surface. Purchasing a strand of pearls that is blemished 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. A wise consumer will insist that the pearls on their necklace are perfectly round, perfectly clean and matched for bodycolor and luster. The composition of a perfect strand of pearls is an art that we have perfected for over 50 years of pearl trading.
WHITE BODYCOLOR PEARLS ARE WORTH MORE
In addition to selling you flawless 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 coursework 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 7.5 millimeters on either end of the necklace and slowly graduate to 8mm 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.
Customer Feedback |
 Location: Austin, TX |
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Excellent
The American Pearl web site was excellent, and the staff was friendly and answered all of my questions. I am very happy with the quality of the necklace I purchased. Christie D. |
Customer Feedback |
Location: Port Jefferson Station, NY |
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Gorgeous
I bought a collection quality 17 inch 7.5 x 8mm Akoya pearl necklace for my fiance for Christmas. This was my first time buying pearls. I found their website helpful. I was able to view their pearls in person since I live in NY. If you are interested in buying high quality pearls I suggest at least taking a look at their website because their pearls are very nice and compare with, if not exceed, those from Mikimoto while being much more affordable. The following is what my fiance thinks of the pearls: I though the pearls were gorgeous. I have never seen such beautiful pearls. Everyone whose seen them were impressed by the quality of the pearls. Now I can't wait to get a pair of matching pearl earrings! Punit A. |
Customer Feedback |
Location: New York, NY |
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Priceless
It's my wife's first ever pearl necklace and earrings. She was so excited when she opened the gifts. Wish you could see the expression on her face when she saw them. It was priceless. Thanks for getting them here in time for me, and thanks for a great buy. Max R. |
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Copyright © 2005, 2006 American Pearl. All rights reserved. |
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