In addition to the pearls cultivated by our farms, we purchase pearls at auction held every winter and private deal. At the bidding sessions, about 50 processors compete with each other to bid on pearls cultivated in various regions, including Ehime, Mie, and Nagasaki prefectures.
Otsuki Pearl is the leading purchaser of Akoya pearls.

Pearls are traded by weight per lot (units: kan and monme), with some of the quality and larger lots fetching as much as 10 million yen per lot. The average unit price of pearls is the highest among all marine products, indicating their value and preciousness as jewels produced by the sea.

Pearls purchased are first sorted by intended use, separating them into those for necklaces (drilling-through pearls) and those for rings and earrings (half-drilling pearls).
Pearls are sorted according to six quality factors: size, flaw, shape, color, luster (shine), and nacre thickness.
When sorting pearls to decide pearl usage, we look at all of these aspects, but we pay particular attention to shape and flaws.
Each pearl is unique and no two pearls are alike, so the goal of this process is to find the intended use that best suits each pearl.

The methods differ, but both are the same in that each pearl is sorted by hand. Almost all sorting is done solely by hand and eye. The pearls are handled with such precision that the process is more aptly referred to as “observing” pearls rather than “looking” at them.

Pearl sorting is done under natural light, so no artificial light sources are used during the work. In addition, direct sunlight is too bright, so the workbenches are located under windows at the north of the building. This approach has been used since the Head Office was constructed, so every room in the processing department is designed to have large windows facing north.

A sunscreen that can open and close is installed on the exterior walls to adjust the amount of light taken in depending on the amount of sunlight.

There are two main methods of drilling holes as follows.

Half drilling

For earrings, piercings, and rings, a hole is drilled on only one side to insert the pearls into the clasp or on the post. In addition, the hole is drilled about 2/3 of the way through the pearl to leave a beautiful surface.

Drilling – through

When threading pearls for necklaces, bracelets, or the like, holes are drilled through the pearl to leave a beautiful front and back. Instead of going all the way through the pearl from one side, a hole is made on each side.

This process requires the ability to determine the position of the hole to drill and the ability to constantly concentrate on drilling throughout the day in order to make the most of each pearl.
In addition, the craftsman sharpens and uses the bits he will use to drill holes. The opening of the hole affects the appearance and durability of the pearl. The skill to sharpen a drill bit is also important to creating a beautiful opening.
Drilling is the only step in processing that cannot be redone. A craftsman must decide the position of the hole to drill based on the experience he has amassed. The drilling of a hole can increase or decrease the value of a product.

Pearls are gems that are produced inside an oyster’s shell. Therefore, dirt or impurities may become entrapped in the layers of nacre during the process of forming a pearl or the pearl may lose its original luster. Otsuki Pearl has developed unique techniques to maximize the original beauty of pearls, such as techniques to polish pearls and remove impurities in the layers of nacre.
Pearls that have been sorted by intended use and in which holes have been drilling are processed as described above, their original beauty is enhanced, and they are further sorted depending on their intended use.

In this process, sorting is done mainly by shape and flaws.
First, there are 2 main types of shapes: round (spherical) and irregularly shaped. There are various types of irregular shapes such as buttons, teardrops, and flat. Being irregularly shaped does not necessarily mean that a pearl is unusable; instead, this is its character. Some pearls have thick layers of nacre and beautiful overtones.

Is a pearl flawless, does it have a single flaw, or does it have large flaws that stand out? In addition, the types of flaws are classified as protruded flaws, dented flaws, scratches, and a rough surface. What is important here is to determine the number, location, and extent of flaws and then to comprehensively judge and grade the value of the pearl itself, taking into account other factors such as the thickness of the nacre.
Sorting for flaws greatly affects the next process, necklace making, and how well the pearls match one another.

Necklace making is the process of sorting pearls into a semi-finished product (a necklace before a metal clasp is attached).
Necklace making is the final process in which pearls are repeatedly sorted and matched for quality and then assembled into a necklace. In order to create a matching strand of pearls, the pearls are further sorted to achieve a certain degree of uniformity in terms of nacre thickness, color, and luster.

The uniformity of the necklace as a whole is referred to as “matching,” and matching is a very important factor in determining the value of a necklace. To create a necklace with matching pearls, we carefully lay out the pearls one by one, paying close attention to every detail.

Then, the strand is threaded together, taking into consideration the orientation of the combined pearls so that they look beautiful, and the strand is complete.

Semi-finished products (necklaces before a metal clasp is attached) are organized and bundled by similar type. Each bundle is priced and then given to the sales department. Each day, we work on approximately 500 strands of a specific quality, sometimes more than 1,000 strands.
The same pearls can yield strands that vary in price many times over, depending on the sorting technique. Having the skill to differentiate the value of pearls and small differences is absolutely essential to making good necklaces.

In this process, pearls that have been sorted by their intended use are further sorted into quality categories by comprehensively identifying factors such as shape, nacre thickness, color, and luster. Half drilled pearls have few flaws and are considered to be extremely valuable among pearls that are a product of nature. We roll such rare and precious pearls in the palm of our hand and carefully check them one by one according to our strict standards.

In addition, we also pair 2 similar pearls into a set for earrings or piercings. The process of pairing pearls that are unique is truly a craftsman’s skill.

One team is responsible for all of the processes, from sorting South Sea pearls by intended use to sorting for flaws, necklace making, and sorting loose pearls.

In addition to the types of pearls, their sizes and colors vary widely, and we sort pearls and make strands to capitalize on the allure of each pearl.