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Akoya Pearls
Pearls are a classic jewelry element and unless you have very deep pockets, you’ll most likely be buying jewelry made with cultured pearls. but if you want the finest, best quality cultured pearls then you’ll want jewelry that has Akoya pearls.
Unlike their lesser quality counterparts the freshwater pearl, Akoya pearls are cultured saltwater pearls. These are the most popular pearls found in today’s necklaces and earrings. When compared side-by-side with freshwater pearls, it is clear to see the difference as the Akoya pearls are generally higher in luster, smoother, rounder and can be found in larger sizes.
Akoya pearls are most popular in the white with a slight rose color tone but also are used for black pearl jewelry and can also be found in white with overtones of yellow or green and also in a cream color. Since these pearls tend to be the most consistently round shaped pearls they are a top choice for necklace and bracelet strands as well as matching earrings.
These cultured saltwater pearls are cultivated from the Pinctada fucata martensii oyster and have long been a specialty of Japanese pearl farms but recently have been cultured by the Chinese as well. This oyster is actually one of the smallest pearl producing oysters yielding pearls that range from two to 11 mm but although they are small they are the most consistently round shaped.
In the early 20th century pearl culturing was perfected by Kokichi Mikimoto and the accord or pearls from Japan became the first pearls to be cultured and sold to the masses on a large scale. A Mikimoto pearl necklace or other piece of jewelry was a prize to have back then and still is today. Unfortunately water pollution and disease have caused a decline in the Akoya pearl production in Japan.
While Japan production has slowed Chinese production has sped up but until recently the Chinese Akoya pearls were considered to be inferior to the Japanese. However, today the Chinese are able to produce Akoyas that are just as high quality as the Japanese pearls.
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