What Are Pearls? A Simple Guide for Beginners.
Discover what makes pearls unique, the types you should know, and why these timeless gems are still a smart and elegant choice today.
Tag Archives: Akoya Pearls
Akoya Pearls vs. Freshwater Pearls
Pearls are remarkable organic gems with a rich and fascinating history. Whether it is the classic Akoya pearls or the affordable freshwater pearls you think of, one thing comes to mind: their distinguished beauty. Nevertheless, there are several characteristics that set these types of pearls apart.
The body color of Akoya pearls is generally white. With lovely rose overtones, Akoya pearls are deemed the classics of pearl jewelry. When experts evaluate the color of Akoya pearls, they take the orient, the overtone, and the body color into account. While there are no two identical Akoya pearls in the world, it’s important that they’re almost identical to the naked eye when they are included in a Japanese Akoya pearl necklace.
The luster of Akoya cultured pearls is one of the most distinguishing traits of these organic gems. The luster is typically perceived as the one factor that gives a pearl its beauty. The luster of a pearl varies from poor to excellent. In the case of Japanese Akoya pearls, the rating varies from A to AAA. The latter is the highest grade for the luster of the pearl.
The rule of thumb when it comes to size is that the larger the pearl, the more valuable it is. Which, when it comes to Akoya vs freshwater pearls, is a considerable gain for the former. Akoya jewels grow between 6 and 8.5 mm.
Almost perfectly rounded Akoya pearls are among the most valuable. Spherical pearls are difficult to culture and therefore are quite rare.
Surface and Nacre. The quality of the nacre of Akoya pearls directly impacts the pearls’ luster. However, it also matters in terms of durability. The thicker the nacre of a pearl, the longer it can withstand wear-tear. These fragile gems need special and attentive care. The surface of an Akoya pearl is another important factor for evaluating the Akoya pearl’s value. The fewer blemishes appear on the pearly white surface, the better.
Some freshwater pearls look remarkably similar to Akoya pearls. However, the price per strand varies significantly. That is because each pearl type and each pearl is assessed according to a set of factors. Together, they dictate the quality and the value of pearls. Let us dwell on these for a moment and gain deeper insight into the differences between Akoya pearls and freshwater pearls.
What are Akoya Pearls?
Akoya pearls represent one type of cultured pearls. Natural pearls have sadly become a rarity in today’s world. As such, renowned jewelers have worked together with communities to set up pearl oyster farms where these precious organic gems are created. Akoya pearls make no exception.
Cultured in the Akoya oyster, these timeless beauties are deemed the classics of pearl jewelry. The pearly white or cream of the Akoya pearl is quite recognizable around the world. Its unique luster, size and color add to its value.
Cultured Akoya Pearls
Akoya pearls are cultured both in Japan and in China. However, most of the cultured Akoya pearls are harvested in Japan farms. These exquisite gems are grown around a beaded nucleus. The farmer carefully inserts an irritant in the Pinctada fucata oyster.
The oyster then covers the beaded nucleus in layer after layer of nacre. An Akoya cultured pearl takes between 10 and 18 months to grow sufficiently to be harvested. Although the farming process is controlled, the chances that all harvested Akoya pearls look the same are fairly slim. This is why each of them is controlled individually before they are included in an Akoya pearl necklace or a pair of Akoya pearl earrings. Compared to freshwater pearls, this is how Akoya pearls fare.
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10 Great Ways to Wear Akoya Pearls (Cultured Pearls)
If you like jewelry and pearls in particular, and browse the niche market and magazines frequently, then you may have heard of Akoya pearls quite often. It’s a name that tends to spring up around specialized hubs and expert shows, but it doesn’t refer to any newly discovered or exotic species of pearls. In fact, the Akoya pearls are cultured pearls, by their more official name. The element of novelty comes only from the fact that people have known them for a long time as ‘cultured pearls’, on a popular culture level, and only recently have started calling them Akoya pearls.
We will give you a short list of the top 10 tips on wearing and accessorizing Akoya pearls, and then wrap it up with a brief presentation on how Akoya pearls came to be in the first place. The first part of our ultimate guide will also tell you how to Since Akoya pearls are actually the more budget-friendly sisters of natural pearls and the beauty of a classic rope necklace or earrings never goes out of style, they should be the go-to choice whenever you’re shopping for pearl jewelry.
10 Tips and Tricks on Choosing and Wearing Akoya Pearls
If you’re just starting wearing pearls in general (or if you haven’t worn Akoya pearls so far), this is what you need to know for a flawless style and the easy maintenance of your pearls.
1. Start with small Akoya pearls
If you’re not a habitual pearl wearer (or the person you’re shopping for isn’t), then maybe it’s best to start with smaller Akoya pearls. These will look discreet and will contribute to a classic charm without feeling too over-the-top or needing much else in order to balance your overall look. Stick to the size of 6-8mm for your first strings of pearls and maybe move on to more impressive statement pieces in the future. The most popular choices for first-time buyers of Akoya pearls are bracelets and necklaces, but don’t neglect the impact a classic pair of earrings or a ring can have.
2. Order them from a trusted source
Once you make up your mind and prepare to order your jewelry, make sure you trust the source of the pearls first. Both online and offline stores should make the sources for their cultured pearls transparent and available for any interested customer. The advantage of online stores is that you may be able to find the jewelry you want for a lower price, either because they are usually more affordable or because they can offer impressive discounts regularly, or are sold under a wholesale program.
Anyway, you should be able to find Akoya pearls at a much more affordable price than traditional natural pearls. The other option for budget-friendly pearl jewelry is the freshwater pearl, but a comparison between Akoya pearls vs. freshwater pearls will point out that the Akoya variety is much rounder and shiny than the more humble freshwater variant. This is why the Akoya pearls are the most popular choice for pearl enthusiasts everywhere.
3. Learn how to maintain your pearls
A beautiful piece of pearl jewelry can have a long life if properly care for and maintained. It isn’t complicated, you just need to know how to store your pearls when you’re not wearing them and what actions are necessary from time to time. After a few years of wear or when you notice the necklace or bracelet has gotten a bit loose, you should take your Akoya pearls to the jewelry shop and ask someone to restring them. Also, never spray on perfume while already wearing the pearls, as the alcohol can damage them.
4. Little black dresses and pearls never go out of style
Think Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys. If you’re having doubts as to what to wear your new strand of white Akoya Pearls with, a classic black dress is always a fine option. Of course, there are plenty of different types of black dresses, so this pre-made outfit can definitely still have room for improvising. Red lipstick is also a classic fit to any pearl jewelry.
5. Learn about the various type of necklaces
Akoya pearls shine best in a necklace (and a bracelet, preferably), and that’s also what customers buy the most when it comes to pearl jewelry. A rope pearl necklace is very different from a classic strand and even more different from a choker necklace. If you’d also like to have a pendant on your string of Akoya pearls, then the style of the necklace changes again. Look into all models to be able to decide which one would fit your style best.
6. Pay attention to the grading of Akoya pearls
Akoya pearls are graded according to the quality of their nacre and luster. They can be either A, AA, or AAA (the latter also being the most valuable grade of the three).
7. Choose a daring color: blue
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Akoya Pearl Necklace
Akoya pearl necklaces can be found in just about every well-dressed woman’s wardrobe thanks to the work of Mikimoto, the father of modern pearl cultivation. A simple stand of pearls is often passed down through the generations from mother to daughter.
A necklace of Akoya pearls is seen by many women as a rite of passage, usually given on the girl’s sixteenth birthday. The beauty of a pearl necklace is that it can be worn successfully on nearly all occasions, from a very formal affair to the most casual. Pearl necklaces are popular in single, double and even multiple stands, depending on the event to which a woman will be wearing them.
The Akoya pearl once was solely a product of Japan, but a mysterious disease nearly wiped out pearl farming in the mid-1990s. Today, Chinese pearl farmers have cross-bred their oysters with the Akoya, and now they are considered to be the major of producer of Akoya pearls.
The Japanese pearl farmer is concentrating on producing only the larger pearls that the Chinese cannot. The appearance of the Akoya pearl is important when combined with other factors such as luster, roundness and surface quality. A necklace made of matching Akoya pearls is enhanced by these factors.
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Akoya Pearls
Akoya pearls are prized and sought after by some of the most discriminating jewelry collectors all over the world. The delicate color and wonderful luster of Akoya pearl necklaces make them one of the most popular and classic adornments world-wide.
Luminous Akoya pearls are beautiful to wear to any occasion. From casual occasions to the office and for the formal events, Akoya pearls are timeless and elegant classics that will light up any event.
Akoya pearls are named after the Akoya oyster in which they are found. The Akoya pearl is one of the most popular today. Jewelry pieces made Akoya pearls cultured in from Akoya oysters are available many forms, from earrings to bracelets and ever popular Akoya pearl necklaces. Most Akoya pearls available for purchase today are cultured Akoya pearls.
This means the beginning of Akoya pearls are initiated by man. This beginning of an Akoya pearl is usually a small bit of shell that is formed into a specialized bead. That bead is surgically inserted by a skilled pearl culturer into a very specific part of an Akoya oyster. The Akoya oyster responds by secreting layer upon layer of nacre or mother of pearl over the bead and forms an Akoya pearl.
Even with the culturers’ aid, Akoya pearls are rare. The insertion process can only be carried out by well trained culturers. Also, a vast majority of the Akoya pearls produced do not meet the strict Akoya standards for Akoya pearls and finished jewelry such as Akoya pearl necklaces.
The beautiful Akoya pearls produced by this laborious and time consuming process are most definitely worth it. Akoya pearls are typically very round with colors ranging from white, to creams and light pinks. These colors are very popular for Akoya pearl necklaces.
The colder water that the Akoya pearl oyster lives in helps it to secrete thicker and more lustrous mother of pearl. As a result, Akoya pearls have superb luster which also helps to make Akoya pearl jewelry such as Akoya pearl necklaces one of the most popular jewelry pieces today.
