Akoya Pearls
Akoya pearl is a kind of saltwater pearls from Akoya oyster
(Pinctada fucata martensii), which are usually cultured. Even though they are
called a Japanese name, the oyster originates from China; China has a long
history of culturing South China Sea Pearl with Akoya oyster in the sea area of
Southern China.
Currently, the Akoya oyster has been widely used to
culture pearls in China, Japan, Korea, Hongkong and Sri Lanka, and china has
become the major producer of Akoya pearls.
Akoya pearls are typically
roundish. Their body colors range from light pink to white or creamy. Sizes
range from 3mm – 9mm. Round Akoya pearls larger than10 mm are very rare, if
there are, their price will be much higher than the same size South sea pearls.
Luster
and Nacre
Akoya pearl has the strongest luster in all pearls. Sometimes,
even in a dim environment, a high quality Akoya pearl can still reflect the
limited light and display a strong contrast of the light and dark part.
In Akoya pearl trade standard, 0.35mm is a minimum nacre thickness of
Akoya Pearls. But now, it is hard to find Akoya pearls reach this nacre
thickness. Therefore, GIA define a nacre thickness for Akoya Pearls. see
Luster
and Nacre
Surface Quality
It is very normal that Large or thick nacre Akoya pearl
has some blemishes on the surface. That just because the pearl get those
blemishes as with they stay a long time in the oyster
Color
Body color and overtone of Akoya pearl play an important role on
determining its price.
Body Color
| Light Pink |
 |
The highest price Akoya pearl |
| White |
 |
white body color normally with silver or pink overtone |
| Light Cream |
 |
cost less than white. But in low quality pearls, the different between
the two are small |
| Cream |
 |
lower than light cream one |
| Dark Cream&Yellow |
 |
Less 50% of price than white Akoya
Pearl |
Overtone Pink:
higher the value
Silver: without much
affection
Green: sometimes decrease the
price slightly
The most valued Akoya pearls, named Hanadama Quality, is a
kind of bluish-pink color:a light-pink body color with blue and pink overtone.
Shape
Akoya pearls can be divided into four shape categories:
Round,
Off-round, semi-baroque and baroque
Size
Akoya pearls are with wide size range under 9mm. China has been the major
Akoya producer under 7mm, but most pearl above 7mm are produced in Japan.
Treated
Akoya Pearl
Shecy Pearls are dedicated in providing our
customers with high quality Akoya pearl jewelry of different colors and designs.
What Akoya pearl jewelry do you want?