Does anybody know if it is possible to buy just one loose hanadama pearl?

[appliey]

Does anybody know if it is possible to buy just one loose hanadama pearl?

 

[jshepherd]

It is possible. A single pearl would have to be submitted to the lab for certification. The certification isn't cheap, so that's why not many do it unless requested. The end result is that a single certified pearl is more expensive than half of a pair.

 

[ennui]

Would you be able to elaborate on the cost involved in getting a single Hanadama GIA certified?

According to the GIA, certification on 1 loose 9mm bead cultured pearl looks to be $60

The GIA fee schedule I found charges by carat weight, not mm size. It's $60 for a very small pearl, under 3 carats. A larger pearl will weigh more. If I'm reading it correctly ...

 

[ennui]

When you are looking at single pearls, you can ask the vendor for the weight.
My guess is a 9 mm Tahitian would be $100 since it's bead nucleated, but you'd need the weight to be sure.
I would think that most people requesting GIA review are sending in multiple pearls, strands or bags, so charging fees by weight would be easier for the GIA.

 

[BWeaves]

Good catch, do you know of a mm to carat weight conversion formula or chart for pearls?

I wonder why the GIA prices pearls by carat weight for instead of mm?
So would $100 be more accurate for a 9mm pearl certificate then?

The GIA prices for a single pearl are probaby by carat weight, because they only get natural pearls to evaluate, and naturals are done by carat weight, not mm size. I think GIA may never had a single cultured pearl sent to them.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I think @BWeaves meant that GIA have maybe never had a solitary akoya pearl, i.e. one only, sent for certification.

Edited to add: For context, this was in response to a post that tinyquestion2015 has deleted.

 

[tinyquestion2015]

I think BWeaves meant that GIA have maybe never had a solitary akoya pearl, i.e. one only, sent for certification.

She says “they only get natural pearls to evaluate”. We know that isn’t true

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Single natural pearls -- yes. Undoubtedly many single natural pearls are sent to GIA for certifcation.
She said: "I think GIA may never had a single cultured pearl sent to them." (bolding mine). "Single" as in just one pearl. As in, a person sent in just one cultured pearl for certifcation. And she is saying maybe that hasn't happened.

I think you misundertood the use of "single" here.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Also I don't know the answer to your question, never having researched it. Why don't you ask GIA yourself?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Peace out.