Akoya Pearl Necklace

Akoya pearls are smallish cultured pearls that originally came from Japan but these days they are often made in China or even Vietnam. They are often quite  circular and regular and for that reason they are quite often used to make necklaces. Normally they would be white and creamy in colour often with pink hues, occasionally they are dyed and sold as black pearls.

Akoya pearls were the first pearls to be successfully cultured, in fact the Japanese developed many of the techniques still used today for all types of pearls. Naturally one oyster out of 10,000 would generate a pearl, therefore in the past pearls were objects of extreme rarity and value.  Cultured pearls are still made by the oyster but the process is initiated by man. Oysters make pearls when they believe they have been invaded by a foreign object or irritant (a speck of dust or a parasite) and over time they cover the intruder with several coats of calcium carbonate.  In a cultured pearl the fake intruder is gently places inside the pearl which will start the pearl making process. 

It could take several months or even  a few years for a pearl to be made and not all pearls will be good enough to be used in jewelry and this explains why cultured pearls are not always very cheap. 

If you want a pearl necklace Akoya pearl will probably be your first choice, their colour and luster make them great with any skin tone. Also if you like black pearls but do not want a collar necklace made with Black Tahitian pearls you will find black akoya pearls. These pearls are genuine but they have been dyed  giving them a wonderful dark metallic look. Whether you go for a black or a white nacklace it will change colour and tone under different types of lights. 

Japanese Akoya pearls have a longer tradition, the industry is fairly well regulated and the pearls will be generally more valuable than the Chinese Akoya pearls. Akoya pearls grow in a colder climate which means the pearls have more luster than their Chinese counterparts. Whi8ch pearl to choose will be probably decided by your budget and what you want your necklace for. Occasionally we do prefer cheaper jewelry that can can worn for all occasions without having too worry too much.

Akoya pearls have 3 grades:

AAA: nearly perfect, at least 95% of the surface will have to be flawless, you will be able to see your reflection and the pearl will have to be round

AA: A very good pearls with at least 75% of the surface which will be flawless and will have a good luster

A: Often these are pearls that were harvested too soon and therefore they do not have the luster found in other pearls. They also have more than 25% of their surface covered in flaws. 

When you buy pearl jewelry always go to a reputable store or jeweller as there are lots of fake or sub standard pearls in the market and the danger is to be charged more for them is you are not knowledgeable.