Pearl FALCO. SingaLife Weekly. Interview with Pearl FALCO’s Expert Pearl Buyer

Pearl FALCO wishes to thank SingaLife for featuring members of the Pearl FALCO community and team members in a series of six articles about Pearl FALCO’s “Jewelry Makers.” SingaLife’s original articles were published in Japanese, and are translated into English here. From the SingaLife Series, Maiko’s “Interview with Pearl FALCO’s Expert Pearl Buyer.”

Pearl Experts Make Ise Shima & Cultured Pearls Sing

Thanks to Ise Shima’s unique ecology and the dedicated efforts of so many people over the last 120 years, sustainable pearl cultivation continues to thrive here in Ise Shima, Japan, the birthplace of some of the world’s most beautiful cultured pearls.

Introducing Mr Kazuo Yamaguchi. Pearl FALCO’s Expert Pearl Buyer

Yamaguchi-san has been involved in the pearl industry his entire adult life. Just after graduating from High School, Yamaguchi-san’s Father introduced him to a friend involoved in the pearl industry. It was that day, the ‘spark was lit,’ and Yamaguchi-san hasn’t looked back since.

Yamaguchi-san notes jokingly, “Since that first day, there has never been a day since I haven’t touched pearls …. even on my days off.” Yamaguchi-san mentioned this as he was gazing upon a new set of pearls, eyes like those of a father looking after his beloved daughters.

The Search for Great Pearls Is a Lifetime Passion

Yamaguchi-san is Pearl FALCO’s Pearl Expert in search of pearls with each pearl expressing the best face of each different pearl as a jewel. “Of course, pearls are predominantly worn by women, yet the harvesting and grading has been a male-centered industry, most likely due to how pearl harvesting is most closely tied to the fishing industry.”

Recently, women designers have been bringing fresh new ideas to pearl jewelry design, rejuvinating the pearl industry for a new world audience, which is very exciting. The pearl industry is becoming more modern, more feminine, and more and more interesting with pearls. If possible, I want my son to inherit it.”

Pearl Jewelry Ties Loved Ones and Families Together

“Like a pearl strand, station or pendant necklace, pearl jewelry signifies the human bond, tying loved ones together through eternity.”

I once had the honor of taking care of a customer’s pearl necklace that had been soaked in salt water by the ensuing tsunami of the Tohoku Earthquake of 2011, for cleaning and re-threading. The original necklace was made and purchased at our Ise City Pearl FALCO Gallery decades ago by another family member, a now deceased brother.

“Not only selling pearls, but I also enjoy rethreading pearl jewelry. It helps me to connect with customers on a far more personal level. In this sense, not the jewelry itself but the sharing of pearl jewelry that ties families together.

Akoya Pearls. One of Japan’s Miraculous Treasures

Akoya pearls are the ones that nurture the land and nature of Japan, connect the dreams of many people who put on that one jewel, the customers who purchased it, and his family, and hope for the next generation.

“What a Glorious Gift of Nature, Akoya Pearls, One of Japan’s Miraculous Jewels.”

For Yamaguchi-san, Pearls Are A Family Affair

Before he was born, Yamaguchi’s grandparents were already intricately involved in pearl cultivation in Minami Ise City, a town Yamaguchi-san thinks of as one of the most beautiful places on earth. Within kilometers of Yamaguchi-san’s ancestral home, pearls are cultivated, harvested, washed, toned, sorted, graded, drilled, and made ready to be incorporated into fine works of jewelry.

This is what continues to fascinate Yamaguchi-san, the magic, and wonder of pearl cultivation. Cultivated pearls are born in nature, like snowflakes, with no two pearls being exactly alike. Each pearl displayed in a Pearl FALCO Gallery has passed through human hands at least 3000 times.

Pearl FALCO’s Commitment

Yamaguchi-san, as all Members of the Pearl FALCO Team, appreciate how, as important as the jewelry choices made, Pearl FALCO is dedicated to improving the quality of our customer’s lives and their relationships, sharing heirloom quality lifetime expressions of devotion with their loved ones.

Pearl FALCO is committed to sharing our knowledge and experience of pearls and pearl jewelry, and we encourage our customers to browse Pearl FALCO’s Online Gallery or schedule a Pearl FALCO Gallery Visit so we can help you make better-informed buying decisions.

‘Soap Bubble Luster.’ One of Yamaguchi-san’s Favorite Aspects of How Akoya Pearls Shine Like No Other Pearl!

‘Soap Bubble Luster’

Luster is among the most important criteria to determine a pearl’s value. Pearls are made of calcium carbonate, nacre. As the mother oyster shrouds so many fine layers of nacre around the nucleus, the more translucent and lustrous a pearl becomes.

Akoya Pearls Are Said to Shine Like Mirrors. A pearl’s translucence and brilliance is contingent upon how evenly the layers of nacre are formed. When light is reflected or passes through the many layers of nacre, pink and green colors emerge from the inside. The pearl seems to radiate like a soap bubble.

Akoya Pearls Are Sought After Worldwide For Their High Translucence, Luster and Fine Texture. These qualities are attributed to Japan’s four seasons and the beautiful natural environment of Ise Shima Japan, where multiple generations of local families have been entrusted with protecting and passing on this great tradition to future generations.

Born In Nature, Sustainably Cultivated Pearls Are Like No Other. Like snowflakes, no two pearls are exactly alike. Even today, pearls are evaluated one at a time with expert eyes. Remarkably, each pearl you see in a Pearl FALCO Gallery has been touched at least 3000 times for cleaning, processing, grading, and crafting. One of Japan’s great traditions, Akoya pearl cultivation is not just a form of aquaculture, but a way of life for the people of Ise Shima.

Pearl Jewelry Selection Is A Learning Process

As a Multi-Generational Family Owned Business, Pearl FALCO is dedicated to sharing our 30 plus years of experience in heirloom quality jewelry selection and design to enhance the quality of the lives of our customers. Pearl FALCO is here to help make both everyday and special moments shine like pearls.