What Are Akoya Cultured Pearls

The first pearls to be cultured early in the 1920s their white color and rosé overtone complement a fair complexion.

What are akoya cultured pearls.

About akoya pearls akoya pearls are the specialty of japanese pearl farms. Akoya pearls the classic beauty of the gems of the sea akoya pearls are the most abundant type of saltwater pearls on the market today. Because akoya are the most abundant type of saltwater pearl with the longest cultured history information on akoyas is abundant. Akoya pearls are a salt water verity of cultured pearl farmed primarily in the bays of southern japan and as such they are more rare and valuable than freshwater pearl verities.

Cultured pearls can be farmed using two very different groups of bivalve mollusk. The original japanese cultured pearls known as akoya pearls are produced by a species of small pearl oyster pinctada fucata martensii which is no bigger than 6 to 8 cm 2 4 to 3 1 in in size hence akoya pearls larger than 10 mm in diameter are extremely rare and highly priced. Cultured akoya pearls are known for being perfectly round baroque akoya are of course available but they re rare and more of a collector s item at this point in time. Today a hybrid mollusk is used in both japan and china in the production of akoya pearls.

The vast majority of akoya pearls you ll run into in stores and online today are perfect rounds. Jewelers commonly use this classic pearl type to create elegant pearl necklaces. Because akoya pearls are a high quality pearl you ll find them set with gold posts and clasps and you ll find they are well matched for size shape and colour. Due to the difficulties inherent in saltwater ocean farming along with the fact that these oysters produce only one pearl at a time where as freshwater pearls produce up to 40 45 the availability of these gems is more limited driving market value upwards.

About akoya pearls akoya pearls are the specialty of japanese pearl farms. The freshwater river mussel and the saltwater pearl oysters. The akoya pearl is a saltwater cultured pearl from the akoya oyster pinctada fucata martensii.