The term “Hanadama” is a quality designation that is bestowed upon some cultured Akoya saltwater pearls that are usually of Japanese origin. Hanadama is the Japanese word translating to spherical flower and was coined by Kokichi Mikimoto to describe the highest quality percentage of production in the Akoya pearl industry. Factors that determine pearl quality for all pearls include roundness, nacre thickness, color, overtones, luster, and only miniscule surface imperfections. While these gradation categories apply irrespective of size, the size of a pearl is a major factor in the rarity, and therefore, value of any pearl. Hanadama pearls are generally regarded as close to perfect in each of these attributes as any cultured Akoya pearl can get. Only approximately 2% of the annual pearl harvest qualifies for the Hanadama Grade. The Hanadama grade is still used to designate the absolute finest of each pearl harvest by the world's renowned pearl companies.

By mutual agreement among the premiere pearl companies, all Hanadama pearls are evaluated and certified by the Pearl Science Laboratory in Tokyo and will be accompanied with an identifying certificate. Hanadama strands of pearls come in limited supplies, not only because the pearls themselves are so rare, but also because in order to create a strand, many pearls have to be matched for size, luster, color, and nacre thickness. A strand of pearls cannot be referred to as Hanadama unless accompanied by this certificate. While there are branded names of pearls, as well as highly regarded jewelers that market high quality Akoya pearls, it is rare to find Hanadama quality pearls in most retail outlets due to their scarcity. The original certificate has to accompany the strand, if there is no certificate then the strand is not Hanadama. Hanadama pearls typically rate higher in quality than AAA Akoyas. As a result, Hanadama pearls command a substantial premium in price over similarly sized, lesser quality pearls, such as Chinese cultured freshwater pearls. It is important to realize that only about half of the submitted strands for Hanadama analysis are accepted as such by the Pearl Science Laboratory.

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