About Pearl

1. Are Masaaki Pearls real?
Yes. Technically, there are two types of Real pearls: Natural pearls and Cultivated pearls. Both are real because both are created by living oysters. Most of Masaaki Pearls are cultivated by introducing a foreign particle inside the oyster, which creates the pearl around the particle.

2. Are Masaaki Pearls Japanese?
No. Masaaki Pearls is an international brand, and uses Freshwater Pearls from China, Akoya Pearls from Japan as well as South Sea Pearls from Tahiti and Australia. The jewellery is designed and crafted in Europe (Italy, Germany, and Spain) and the Far East (Hong Kong, Japan).

3. How can one tell the difference between a Natural Pearl and a Cultivated Pearl?
It’s very difficult to tell the difference. Only a pearl expert with many years of experience can do so. However major Gem Laboratories can examine the pearls with x-ray machines and issue a certificate of authencity.

4. Why are pearls so expensive?
Pearls are the only gemstone created by a living organism; hence they occur very rarely. This is the reason why natural pearls are expensive, although culured pearls are a bit less so.

5. Are Masaaki Pearls good quality pearls?
Yes; we use only top quality pearls, which are carefully sorted and matched in exact shape, size and quality. The quality is clearly marked on all the labels and certificates of Masaaki Pearls.

6. Why are some earrings almost as expensive as a complete strand?
This is a phenomenon normally seen when purchasing Freshwater pearl jewellery. Freshwater pearl necklaces are usually made of semi-round or oval shapes of the highest quality while the pearls in Freshwater earrings are usually perfectly round. This makes them much more expensive than the pearls used in the necklaces.

7. Why are Akoya pearls more expensive than Freshwater pearls?
Freshwater pearls are formed by inserting a mantle tissue whereas Japanese Akoya is formed by inserting a mantle tissue as well as a bead in the oyster. Because of this bead the mortality rate is high and there is 50% rejection, but because the result, if successful, is perfectly round shaped pearls. In the freshwater pearl cultivation the mortality rate is very little. This is the reason why the Japanese Akoya pearls are more expensive than Freshwater pearls.