Akoya Pearls: characteristics and uses

Akoya pearls are saltwater pearls, historically found in the cold waters of the Japanese Seas but also cultivated in countries such as China and Vietnam.

You have certainly had the chance to admire Akoya pearls in person many times: in jewellery shop windows, worn by models on catwalks, or even among your own jewels. Indeed, this type of pearl is widely spread and used to make bracelets, earrings, or pearl sets.

But what are their peculiarities? Let’s discover them together in today’s article Akoya Pearls: characteristics and use.

The families of Pearls

The families of pearls are divided into two broad categories: freshwater pearls, more commercial and affordable, and saltwater pearls, a category to which Akoya belong.

This group also includes the exotic Polynesian pearls and the large and precious white South Sea pearls, which we covered in a dedicated article. The aforementioned represent, along with Akoya, the most used types of saltwater pearls in jewellery.

The white gold and pearl necklace by Miluna is an example of Made in Italy, composed of a Venetian chain with a cultivated Akoya Pure Special Selection pearl, a choice of Akoya pearls of very fine quality, carefully selected.

What is meant by Akoya pearls?

Akoya pearls owe their name to the type of oyster, the Pinctada fucata martensii, native to Japan and characterised by a mother-of-pearl generally of white, cream, or pink colour.

This is a specimen appreciated for its soft delicacy, rarer than its freshwater “relative”. In this case, indeed, the quantity produced by each oyster is drastically reduced.

Thanks to the cultivation technique discovered by Kokichi Mikimoto at the end of the 1800s, however, the cost of Akoya pearls has lowered and over the years they have become no longer a prerogative of the wealthier classes but a symbol of beauty universally accessible.

Appreciated for their unmistakable shine, Akoya pearls offer a graceful frame for women of all ages and young brides. However, tradition warns: it is better not to receive pearls as a gift on this occasion. To wear them in all their purity and elegance at the wedding, choose a family jewel or buy them yourself.

Pearls have always been a symbol of class and recently have returned more than ever to fashion, becoming a must even for men!

Are you curious to know which other 100% gender fluid jewels are indispensable? Find out in this article.

The peculiarity of Akoya pearls

Typically round in shape, Akoya pearls measure from 2 up to a maximum of 10 mm. Their surface is smooth and shiny and their colour can change taking on shades ranging from white to cream, passing through pink but not only: it is possible to find them, for example, in silver, ivory, or champagne tones.

Which are the most precious Akoya pearls and how to recognise them?

To guarantee the quality excellence of Akoya pearls it is necessary to follow a precise selection standard. The main characteristics that the ideal Akoya pearl must have are:

• thickness of the nacre, or mother-of-pearl; the substance secreted by the oyster must be sufficiently thick so as not to reveal the pearl’s core;
• Lustre, purity, and uniformity: the greater the shine and uniformity of the pearl and the lower its degree of impurity, the higher its overall quality;
• Colour: the Akoya pearl can take on various shades of neutral tones. The particular combination of predominant colour and surface hues (orient) can make our pearl even more special and sought after;
• Size: the average size of Akoya pearls is around 7/8 mm in diameter each;
• Shape: the most appreciated shape is undoubtedly spherical, a roundness often associated with a higher market value. However, the Akoya pearl can also appear in oval or drop form.

Characteristics and use in 2023

Akoya pearls, thanks to their bright and shining lustre, are a symbol of sublime beauty and prosperity. Suitable to enrich both everyday looks and more refined ones, they return to the spotlight to enhance our style in 2023.

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