All pearls’ pricing is determined by market conditions and general pearl properties: size, nacre thickness, luster and surface quality. Properties characteristic to each pearl type also contribute to pricing, these properties are: Akoya pearl pink undertone intensity, South Sea pearl gold color intensity and Tahitian black pearl peacock quality.

Masato does not officially sell any type of baroque, teardrop or misshapen pearls.

Note: Peacock- an intense multi-color manifestation characteristic to Tahitian black pearls.

Masato’s pearls have high luster and well-developed nacre. Masato refrains from selling milky or opaque pearls.

Our pearls exceed the accepted standards for nacre thickness and in order to ensure our quality, samples from orders imported from Japan undergo a thorough screening process. Masato Pearls will not sell pearls with exposed nuclei, nacre flaking or other conditions deemed unacceptable.

Our pearls have no significant blemishes: wrinkles, large pinholes or other major superficial imperfections. Pearls are natural stones, thus all pearls have small imperfections, but our pearls are the closest to perfect that today’s modern culturing techniques have to offer.

Lastly, all of Masato’s pearls are natural in color-no dyes are used.

All of Masato’s akoya pearls are produced in Japan’s Mie Prefecture. All Masato products are strung and matched by hand by on-site professionals in Japan. The akoya pearls used by Masato are of Handama quality, entailing the top 3 to 5% of all pearls produced in Japan. All of Masato’s black pearls are products of Tahiti, while 90% of Masato’s South Sea pearls are products of Australia.

Masato’s pearls are completely natural in color; no dyes are used to enhance color.

Customers should expect the finest reflective properties and surface quality from Masato’s pearls. Superior nacre thickness is a standard of all Masato’s products. Customers will not see exposed pearl nuclei, nacre flaking or asymmetrical abnormalities.

Customers are encouraged to contact Masato Pearls or their jeweler if they are unsatisfied with their purchase.

-Masato Pearls

1) Storing your pearls

Please store your pearls separately from other pieces of jewelry within Masato’s wooden packaging, buckling the clasp to prevent scratching. To prevent your pearls from drying out in arid climates (Including Central Heating) monthly dampen the cloth covering. If you carry your jewelry with you, please carry them separately within a jewelry pouch.

2) Acidic Constitutions and Pearls

Please apply cosmetics, creams, perfumes, hairsprays etc. before wearing your pearls. Should food or any sort of acidic compound make contact with your pearls, please clean them immediately following the instructions provided below.

Please use care when using the following products around your pearls as they may cause damage to the pearl’s surface:

3) Cleaning Your Pearls

Clean your pearls with a damp cotton or linen cloth weekly. The cloth should be dampened with purified or bottled water because tap water could include chemicals that, albeit harmless to humans, are harmful to the pearls. Gently wipe away any residue left by perspiration or cosmetics.

4) Long-term Care

Please have your pearls restrung once annually by a trusted jeweler. This will not only prevent a broken string but also prevent damage to the pearls caused by an unavoidable build up of paste generated by makeup and perspiration. Check periodically for loose knots around the clasps.