China-based pearl specialist Y&M Pearls recently unveiled two new high-quality freshwater pearl collections, which are certified by the Japan Pearl Science Laboratory.

A vertically integrated company, Y&M Pearls specialises in the manufacture, wholesale and retail of saltwater pearls as well as jewellery design. It has since expanded its portfolio to include freshwater pearls.

“The Japan Pearl Science Laboratory especially designated the names ‘Lunastra’ and ‘Splendora’ for our pearl offerings, marking a pivotal step in branding Chinese freshwater pearls as having premium quality and gaining international recognition,” said Y&M Pearls Chairman Ye XiaoBo.

The “Lunastra” pearl is certified as the “best gem-grade (highest quality) freshwater pearl in white colour, while the “Splendora” designation pertains to the company’s top-quality white and coloured freshwater pearls.

Pearl grading was based on five key criteria: Lustre, thickness of pearl layers, body colour, imperfection, and surface and shape.

According to Ye, the certifications are expected to elevate the market’s perception of Chinese freshwater pearls, which are generally seen as low-quality and inexpensive. Certifications can also assure the authenticity and quality of the cultured freshwater pearls, free from fluorescent brightening agents.

Necklaces in the collections feature a custom NFC chip embedded in the clasp. By tapping an NFC-enabled smartphone, users can instantly access detailed product information stored on the chip, including the pearls’ name, size, weight, grade and certificate number.

“We developed this traceability system to prevent counterfeiting and enhance traceability of our product,” Ye explained. “These freshwater pearls, graded by the Japan Pearl Science Laboratory and equipped with traceability features, truly epitomise the premium quality of Chinese freshwater pearls.”