Akoya Pearls are the Classic Pearl Variety
The akoya pearl is a saltwater cultured pearl from the akoya oyster (Pinctada fucata martensii). Akoyas are the most popular type of pearls and are considered to be the classic pearl used for necklaces and other pearl jewelry. With their perfect round shapes, bright mirror-like luster, and soft neutral colors, akoya pearls are favored by most retailers, consumers, and others in the pearling industry. Made affordable and popular by the patented technique of bead-nucleating by Kokichi Mikimoto at the turn of the 20th century, akoya pearls now grace the necklines of ladies from all walks of life and cultures around the world.
How they compare to other types of pearls...
Akoya pearls are best known for their aesthetic qualities. Unlike their freshwater cousins, akoya oysters rarely produce more than 2 pearls per harvest. The oysters are nucleated with a bead composed of mother-of-pearl and mantle tissue. This bead is the basis of the pearl and is the reason Akoya pearls are more often perfectly round. This shape, combined with the high-luster found on top-quality akoya pearls, and their relative rarity compared to freshwater pearls, give akoya pearls both a higher perceived and actual value.
What colors, shapes, and sizes are available...
The akoya oyster is the smallest commercially farmed, pearl-producing oyster. Because of this, the pearls do tend to be small. An average akoya pearl is only 7 mm, while an average South Sea pearl is in the 12 mm range. Akoya pearls are currently being harvested in sizes from as small as 1 mm up to the very rare 10 mm.
Akoya pearls are inherently round, although every harvest produces a percentage of baroque and keshi pearls. These pearls tend to have the bright luster and shine common to the Akoya, but a shape and look reminiscent of a freshwater or baroque South Sea. Akoya pearls, unless color-treated, have soft, neutral colors and overtones. Most pearls are white to grey, with pink, green, or silver overtones. Occasionally, akoya pearls are blue with silver and pink overtones. But these colors are rare except in the baroque variety. Akoya pearls are never naturally black - these pearls have undergone either a radiation or dye treatment.
Where they come from...
Akoya pearls are currently farmed in China, Japan, and to a lesser extent, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and a few other areas. Japan was once the undisputed akoya pearl producing center of the world, but has recently lost that title to China, where in the last 5 years pearls of equivalent quality have been produced in a much greater abundance. The vast majority of the world's akoya pearls, 8 mm and larger, are still produced in Japan. However, the Japanese now import many of their smaller akoya pearls from neighboring China. These pearls are then worked into finished and semi-finished goods and sold as Japanese akoya pearls.
See article: Japanese Akoya Pearls Only - Fact or Fiction?
How rare and valuable they are...
While the akoya pearl is undoubtedly a more rare and valuable pearl than its freshwater pearl cousin, it is only the third most valuable commercially produced pearl, falling behind South Sea and Tahitians. Akoya pearls can be, however, extremely valuable, and it is common to find top-quality akoya pearl strands retailing for more than $10,000. This would be average for a Tahitian strand and low for a South Sea, but much higher than a comparable freshwater pearl necklace.view our akoya pearl collection
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