Provenance
Much of Japan’s shrinking pearl cultivation industry has been operating at a loss for many years. Akoya pearl cultivation projects have been underway in China for decades, but progress has been slow compared to that of freshwater pearl cultivation in the mantle. Sizes 7.5mm and below are hardly cultivated in Japan, as China supplies most of the world’s requirements for small sizes. Some of these are processed in Japan and come to market as “product of Japan”, as do Tahitian and other southsea pearl strands assembled there. Those processed in China and marketed as “made in China” may of course include lower qualities, but are oftentimes better value for money when pearls adequate to the purpose can be found.
A leading US importer of akoya pearls announced a few years ago that it was his policy to value akoya pearls strictly on their merits, ie without regard to whether they were grown in Japan or China. We were inclined to agree, as we are no more able than he to tell the difference!