 Only the finest Japanese Akoya pearls are used in the Princesse Plus Legacy Collection. Imported directly from Japan, our quality pearls represent the top 1% of the entire world's production. All strands are carefully inspected for shape, cleanliness (little or no blemishes), consistent ultra-high luster, and just the right pink hue. Settling for nothing less than perfection, we reject the "near-perfect" strands offered because they don't meet all of our exacting criteria. Although there are add a pearl programs like ours, no one carries the same quality of pearls and consistently supplies them for as long as we have. In order to satisfy our demand, we have partnered with the world's largest pearl cultivators, as well as many smaller overseas producers. We do this to guarantee the quality that our customers have come to expect. The following categories can be used in judging cultured pearls. Lustre - The best lustre is considered to be "bright" with the ability to see an object's reflection on the surface. Cleanliness - Cleanliness refers to bumps, cracks, or spots on the surface of the pearl. Of course, the cleaner the surface the more valuable the pearl. Shape - Pearls are formed in nature, so a perfectly round pearl is rare. The rounder the pearl, the more valuable it is. Baroque is the name given to off-round pearls. Color - Color is really a matter of personal preference, though rose or silver/white usually look best on fairer skin types and cream or gold pearls look best on darker complexions. |
