• Pearl Grading

    Understanding pearl grading is crucial in order to purchase the highest quality pearls at the best possible value. While other gems such as diamonds have standardized grading systems that allow uniformity in the consumer market, unfortunately the pearl industry has not adopted a universal grading system.

    This sometimes results in confused customers who find it hard to make an "apple-to-apples" comparison when looking at pearl jewelry on multiple websites. Pasha Pearls™ follows the most commonly accepted pearl grading system, which is the AAAA quality system. Please scroll down below to view our grading tables for each pearl type.

    It is important to note that often times grading is subjective and consumers might be told that they are getting "AAAA Quality" pearls, when in fact the pearls are of lesser quality. This is the reason why it is CRUCIAL to work with companies who have solid reputations in their industries, as well as ample reviews from similar customers such as yourself.

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    It is important to note that often times grading is subjective and consumers might be told that they are getting "AAAA Quality" pearls, when in fact the pearls are of lesser quality. This is the reason why it is CRUCIAL to work with companies who have solid reputations in their industries, as well as ample reviews from similar customers such as yourself.

  • Please feel free to thoroughly review our Testimonials page, as well as our independent reviews on Yotpo. At Pasha Pearls™, our reputation and credibility speaks for itself. Simply put, we pride ourselves on offering the highest quality pearl jewelry at the most affordable prices.

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  • Freshwater
  • Japanese Akoya
  • Tahitian South Sea
  • White & Golden South Sea

  • Freshwater

    Freshwater pearls are typically found in lakes and rivers in China and produced in mollusks called mussels. Freshwater pearls have recently revolutionized the pearl industry by producing beautiful and lustrous natural white, pink, and peach pearls at a price that is a fraction of Akoya and smaller sized South Sea pearls.
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    A AA AAA AAAA
    Information Low Quality Freshwater representing the bottom 60% of pearl harvest. (Not Sold at Pasha Pearls) Medium-Grade Freshwater representing top 20% of Harvest. Commonly found at jewelry stores and major department stores. (Not Sold at Pasha Pearls) High-Grade Freshwater representing the top 10% of a pearl harvest. Found in Fine Jewelry Stores. High-Grade Freshwater representing the top 10% of a pearl harvest. Found in Fine Jewelry Stores.
    Surface Heavy Blemishing with only 50% or less clean surface. Minor to medium blemishing with a 70-80% clean surface. Minor Blemishing with at least 90% of the pearl surface clean. Very Minor to no blemishing with at least 95% of the pearl surface clean.
    Luster Poor Medium High Very High
    Shape Off Round Off Round Near Round to Round Round

  • Japanese Akoya

    Akoya Pearls are among the most popular pearls that are worn by women today. Akoya Pearls have the advantage of being better priced than South Sea pearls, while being more visually appealing than Freshwater pearls. The high levels of luster and better culturing techniques used by pearl farmers in Japan, produce gorgeous pearls which have graced the necks, ears, fingers, and wrists of women for decades. Pasha Pearls is a direct importer of Akoya pearls from Japan, where these gems are produced in the Pinctada Fucata oyster in saltwater environments. Pasha Pearls™ only sells JAPANESE Akoya pearls, as oppose to lower quality Chinese Akoya pearls that have made there way into the pearl markets, especially through online stores. Since Pasha Pearls™ only offers the finest and highest quality products, we refuse to offer anything less to our customers. Despite the gross misconception by many online vendors that Chinese and Japanese Akoya pearls are equivalent, Japanese culturing techniques are the quintessential element to beautiful Akoya pearls. All of our akoya pearl necklaces are strung on site, and our extensive experience of GIA graduates pay careful attention to every detail.
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    A AA AA+ AAA HANADAMA
    Information Low Quality Akoya representing the bottom 50% of pearl harvest. (Not Sold at Pasha Pearls) Medium-Grade Akoya representing top 60% of Harvest. Commonly found at jewelry stores and major department stores.(Not Sold at Pasha Pearls) High-Grade Akoya representing the top 5-10% of a pearl harvest. Found in Fine Jewelry Stores. High-Grade Akoya representing the top 5-10% of a pearl harvest. Found in Fine Jewelry Stores. GEM Quality Akoya representing the highest 1% of a pearl harvest. Accompanied by numbered certificate by the Pearl Science Laboratory of Japan.
    Surface Heavy Blemishing with only 50% or less clean surface. Minor to medium blemishing with a 70-80% clean surface. Minor Blemishing with at least 90% of the pearl surface clean. Very Minor to no blemishing with at least 95% of the pearl surface clean. 99% or cleaner pearl surface with either very minor to no blemishes visible.
    Luster Poor Medium High Very High Superior
    Nacre Thin Medium Thick Very Thick Very Thick
    Shape Round/Off Round Round Perfectly Round Perfectly Round Perfectly Round

  • Tahitian South Sea

    Tahitian Pearls are considered to be some of the most exotic and beautiful pearls in the world. With the largest collection of uniform and multicolor Tahitian strands on the internet, Pasha Pearls™ has build a solid reputation for having the highest quality Tahitian pearl necklaces available anywhere. While Tahitian South Sea pearls are commonly known as "black pearls", this pearl type actually consists of hundreds of different colors and overtones such as peacock green, silver green, blue, and eggplant colors.
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    A AA AAA AAAA
    Information Low-Grade Tahitian pearls representing the bottom 40% of pearl harvest. (Not Sold at Pasha Pearls) Medium-Grade Tahitian pearls representing the top 60% of Harvest. Commonly found at jewelry stores and major department stores.(Not Sold at Pasha Pearls) High-Grade Tahitian pearls representing the top 5-10% of a pearl harvest. Found in Fine Jewelry Stores. High-Grade Tahitian pearls representing the top 2% of a pearl harvest.
    Surface Pearls having flaws on at least 60% of the pearl surface, with 20% containing deep imperfections. Flawless pearl on 40% if its surface, with the remaining 50% having minor imperfections and 10% containing deep flaws. Flawless pearl on at least 80-85% of its surface, with the remaining 15-20% containing only minor imperfections with one or two deep imperfections. Flawless pearl on at least 95% of the pearl surface, with 5% having slight concentrated imperfections.
    Luster Poor Medium High Very High

  • White & Golden South Sea

    South Sea pearls are considered to be the most valuable and unique pearls found in the world today. These pearls are produced by the Pinctada Maxima oyster, which are found on the shores of Australia and the Philippines. Both Golden & White South Sea pearls are very rare and difficult to find in most jewelry stores, especially in higher qualities. Pasha Pearls™ specializes in offering South Sea pearls that consist of the highest levels of pearl luster and surface cleanliness.
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    A AA AAA AAAA
    Information Low-Grade South Sea pearls representing the bottom 40% of pearl harvest. (Not Sold at Pasha Pearls) Medium-Grade South Sea pearls representing the top 60% of Harvest. Commonly found at jewelry stores and major department stores. (Not Sold at Pasha Pearls) High-Grade South Sea pearls representing the top 5-10% of a pearl harvest. Found in Fine Jewelry Stores. High-Grade South Sea pearls representing the top 2% of a pearl harvest.
    Surface Pearls having flaws on at least 60% of the pearl surface, with 20% containing deep imperfections. Flawless pearl on 40% if its surface, with the remaining 50% having minor imperfections and 10% containing deep flaws. Flawless pearl on at least 80-85% of its surface, with the remaining 15-20% containing only minor imperfections with one or two deep imperfections. Flawless pearl on at least 95% of the pearl surface, with 5% having slight concentrated imperfections.
    Luster Poor Medium High Very High
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    Understanding Pearl Nacre

    Nacre thickness is an important factor when measuring a pearl's quality. Pasha Pearls™ is committed to offering pearls that consist of very thick nacre coatings. In truth, most governments set a minimum nacre thickness to prevent low quality pearls from being exported from the country. Furthermore, all pearls are x-rayed and evaluated prior to export to ensure that they meet the strict nacre standards of their particular region. Therefore, all pearls on the retail market have already been approved by this standard. All pearls used by Pasha Pearls™ have undergone these inspections to ensure that they are of the highest quality.

Reasons you’ll love us.

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Choose from a variety of the finest
designer clasps with double safety mechanisms

Solid 14K or 18K gold posts with high quality secure backings

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We only use the finest
hand picked pearls with superior luster

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All necklaces are strung and
double knotted with the highest quality silk thread

Our pearls are imported directly
from their country of origin,
to uphold the highest pearl quality standards

Our pearls are imported directly
from their country of origin,
to uphold the highest pearl quality standards

Explore

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    Pearl Types

    Read our brief summaries below to educate yourself regarding the origin, value, size and quality of each pearl type.

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    Pearl Sizing

    The largest pearl sizing is available through South Sea pearls, where the largest and highest quality pearls are available.

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    Pearl Shapes

    Pearls are typically assigned to four categories in the sorting process: Round/Semi-Round, Drop, Baroque, and Circle Baroque.

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    Necklace Lengths

    Explore the different length options we offer at Pasha Pearls. Use our interactive model for a visual representation.

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    Ring Size Chart

    Use our Customer Ring Size Chart and Guide to help measure ring sizes correctly.

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