Since May 2008, the Japan Pearl Export and Processing Cooperative Association (PEPCA) has been providing testing services for high-quality Akoya pearls to enhance consumer confidence. A professional team tests these pearls according to stringent standards, and only the highest-quality pearls are classified as 'Select.' The number of pearls sent for testing is limited, and earrings with the 'Select' label are particularly rare. From 2008 to 2016, an average of only 184 strands of pearls were classified as 'Select.' Out of the 550,000 strands of pearls produced each year, only 0.03% are recognized as 'Select,' highlighting their rarity and significance. PEPCA began issuing certificates for 'Select' pearls in 2010 and, in August 2017, introduced a grading system that categorizes pearls as either 'SUPEARL' or 'GRAPEARL.

​

 

Classification:

​

According to the new grading standards, "Select" pearls are now classified as "GRANPEARL," while the highest-quality and rarest pearls are designated as "SUPEARL."

PEPCA emphasizes that both "GRANPEARL" and "SUPEARL" products are top-tier pearls that have undergone rigorous selection and testing.

The design of the gold and silver pearl labels promotes the new grading system. Additionally, the organization has streamlined the "Select" pearl grading reports to enhance convenience during exhibitions and displays.

The grading standards for pearls consider five criteria: luster, surface quality, shape, imperfections, and color. This system applies to Akoya, South Sea, and Tahitian pearls.

A team of five to eight professionals from PEPCA uses these criteria to inspect the pearls and select the highest-quality ones.

To address confusion from the proliferation of "new" names for pearl products in recent years, PEPCA clarifies that private organizations assign these labels based on their standards.