About Flower Jem

This page shares the Akoya pearl selling principles that guide how I choose, evaluate, and present each pearl through Flower Jem.

🌸I was born and raised in Japan, and I’ve always felt more at home in the quiet of the countryside than in the 　　　　　noise of the city. In my free time, I enjoy reading and playing musical instruments.

🌸Through Akoya pearls, I hope to share a sense of wonder and joy—something small, but deeply felt.

🌸Every pearl I offer is an Akoya pearl, available only through this website and my Etsy shop.

As a seller of Akoya pearls, here are the principles I adhere to:

1. Not to Overestimate

I strive to evaluate pearls honestly and carefully.

Sometimes, even B-grade pearls are described or photographed in ways that make them look like AAA-grade. But I have no intention of exaggerating for the sake of profit.

As someone who has worked closely with pearl farms, I know that truly flawless pearls are rare. Most of the pearls I handle have imperfections—tiny wounds, uneven shapes—but they also possess something special that makes them worth sharing.

In a world where words are becoming more and more regulated, I want to stay gentle in how I speak about pearls.

I hope to offer pearls that people can love as they are—both for their beauty and for their flaws.

2. Trust Over Profits

I work full-time as a company employee, and Flower Jem is something I run on the side.

It all began when I came across a necklace intricately knotted with colored threads. The moment I saw it, I felt a strong urge to create something like that—and to share it with others.

This shop exists not for profit, but to showcase the beauty of pearls. And in order to do that, trust is essential.

That’s why I openly share my personal experiences and knowledge about Akoya clams and pearls here on this site.

I don’t offer standardized appraisals like a professional grading service. Instead, I try to convey the appeal of each pearl through fair and honest evaluation—viewing each one as a product of time, care, and nature.

These pearls are not mass-produced—they are born from living creatures.

For me, trust always comes first.

3. Prompt Replies

I usually respond to inquiries within 8 hours.

Because of the time difference between Japan and Western countries, I may not be able to reply while I’m asleep—but I do my best to respond as soon as I wake up, whether it’s late at night or early in the morning.

Since I currently have only a small number of customers, I’m able to stay flexible and respond quickly.

Someday, I hope to say, “I’m replying in the order received. Please allow up to 3 days for a response.”

Until then, you can expect a quick reply.

And More..

This site is run by just one person—me.

I spent nearly 10 years working for a company that owns an Akoya pearl farm.
In Japan, there are only about six companies that not only raise Akoya oysters but also handle the wholesale, processing, and retail of Akoya pearls.

I was fortunate to work for one of those rare companies—doing everything from sorting freshly harvested pearls to selecting ones for customers.

Through this site, I hope to share what I’ve learned over the years, from behind-the-scenes stories to honest insights about pearls.

[Photo: These pearls have just been harvested from the sea.
Raw, untouched pearls often have a natural cream tone.]

Many Akoya pearl farms in Japan focus solely on cultivation and have little knowledge of processing or retail.

On the other hand, many processors and retailers don’t know much about how Akoya pearls are actually made.

As I explain pearls to my customers every day, I can find many people who are interested in the origins of pearls. I’ll be writing occasionally about the pearl farms and what happens behind the scenes.

As I talk with customers every day, I often find that they’re curious about the origins of pearls.

They especially enjoy learning how pearls are grown.

To be honest, when I first started, I wasn’t interested in pearls at all.

I didn’t wear them. I didn’t think about them. They weren’t part of my life.

But as I visited the pearl farm for work and spoke with customers, I began to see the beauty of pearls—and the passion of those who create them.

And now, even retailers and processors I meet are eager to learn more about pearl farming.

That’s why I decided to share the knowledge and experience I’ve gained.

If any part of it helps you better understand pearls, I would be truly happy.

— From Flower Jem

This is an average adult Akoya oyster.

While the size of each shell doesn’t vary much, the size of the nucleus inserted into the oyster is carefully chosen to match each individual.

This is done to avoid placing too much strain on the shellfish.

The size of the inserted nucleus is one of the most important factors in determining the final size of the pearl.

This Akoya shellfish has opened its mouth—
this is the state just before inserting the “nucleus,” which will eventually become the center of the pearl.

Akoya shellfish secrete layers of nacre around the nucleus to form pearls.

If the shellfish contains eggs when the nucleus is inserted, the resulting pearl may appear cloudy in color.

To prevent this, the shellfish are placed in dark containers for a short time to gently suppress egg production before the operation.