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What about that Blue Tag on Japanese Pearls?
Does it mean the highest quality?
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After World War II the Japanese Government set up a system of inspection for all exported cultured pearls out of Japan. This added to consumer confidence in the quality of pearls from Japan. It also established a more stable marketplace for cultured pearls that was similar to the marketplace of diamonds and other gemstones. The Japanese Government Inspection Office ceased operation in 1998 as part of Japan’s administration reforms.
Then 1999 came, the Japan Pearl Exporters' Association (JPEA) launched a new program that was l based on the old Japanese Government Inspection standards. The idea was to promote Japanese pearls and to increase sales. This is known as the Cultured Pearl Quality Inspection and Tag system or the System for the Quality control and the Labeling of Cultivated Pearls.
Pearls that are evaluated if they pass the test they will be get a tag. Each strand will be issued a separate inspection tag.
What does it mean?
Here are the qualities that cause the pearl to not get a tag
Nacre so thin the core can be seen
Extremely low luster.
Excessive blemishes.
Visible cracks
Damage from bleaching or dyeing
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These are basically very low standards, that do not show anything at all about high quality.
Used by some companies to lead you to believe that the pearls are high quality. The tag doesn’t even mean that the pearls are grown in Japan
The JPEA Inspection Tag does not mean that the pearls
are cultured in Japan
are top grade
that pass inspection receives a tag
are of any better quality than those without tags
The JPEA Inspection Tag does mean the pearls
are not damaged or cracked
nacre is thick enough to cover the nucleus
are not destroyed by bleaching or dying
are of a minimum acceptable quality
In summary the Blue tag only signifies that the pearls passed these basic guidelines. The tag does not signify grade or type of pearl jewelry. And lastly the tag doesn’t even prove the pearl jewelry was cultivated in Japan. The tag is put on Chinese freshwater and akoya pearl jewelry. Tahitian Pearl Jewelry, and South Sea Pearls from Australia, and South Sea and Tahitian pearl jewelry from the Philippines
So don’t be misled by some companies claim that they have the best quality Japanese pearls.
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