Photo courtesy GIA
Akoya pearls of a certain, industry-understood quality range will now be described as such in Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA’s) reports.
The lab has introduced a new comment for its pearl reports, employing the historical trade term “Hanadama” to distinguish a designated quality range of cultured akoya pearls.
“We’ve undertaken a thorough exploration into the original and contemporary applications of the term ‘Hanadama,’ along with gathering extensive input from industry insiders,” says GIA’s executive vice-president and chief laboratory and research officer, Tom Moses.
To receive the “Hanadama” comment, cultured akoya pearls must display a combination of all of the following ‘GIA Pearl Value Factors’ classification ranges:
- round to near-round shape;
- white body-colour (with or without overtone);
- excellent lustre;
- clean to lightly spotted surface;
- excellent to very good matching; and
- sufficient nacre thickness and quality.
When a pearl, strand, or other piece of jewellery meets these parameters, GIA will add a comment to its report, stating, in variation: “These pearls fall into the select quality range that is known in the trade as ‘Hanadama.’”
There will be no additional fee for the change, the lab reports.
“Incorporating this historically important industry term into the report underpins our commitment to robust laboratory services and reports that allow consumers to make more informed choices in purchasing Akoya cultured pearls,” Moses says.
GIA has contributed to the identification and classification of natural and cultured pearls since 1949 and has worked with pearl companies globally to develop comprehensive standards for describing pearls (i.e. size, shape, colour, nacre, lustre, surface, and matching).
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