What is the difference between Akoya and South Sea pearls?
Andrew Walker Are Akoya pearls South Sea?
Akoya Pearls are cultured in southwestern Japan and China and range in color from pinkish white to creamy shades and silvery blue. This Akoya oyster typically produces smaller pearls, ranging between 2 to 10 mm, but don't let the size fool you; these pearls are highly prized for their rich colors and stunning luster.
What is the difference of South Sea pearl and Akoya pearl?
The average nacre of an Akoya pearl is between 0.35mm to 0.7mm, whereas the nacre of a South Sea pearl measures 2mm to 6mm. This unusual thickness is what gives the South Sea pearl a unique sheen that is often perceived to be soft and captivating.
Which type of pearls are best?
White South Sea and Golden South Sea pearls are the most sought-after cultured versions of the gems in the world. That's because they are the rarest, and offer the most luster and greatest pearls sizes. Both Golden South Sea and White South Sea pearls are cultivated in saltwater.
Are Akoya pearls good quality?
While the akoya pearl is considered to be (overall) more rare and valuable than the freshwater pearl, it is only the third most valuable commercially produced pearl, falling behind South Sea and Tahitians. It is still common to find top-quality akoya pearl strands retailing for more than $10,000, however.
Freshwater Pearls vs Sea Pearls (Akoya Pearls)
Are South Sea pearls the best?
Fine South Sea Pearls are the superlative pearls, the crème de la crème of pearls, the most coveted and sought-after of all cultivated pearls in the world. They are unique in that they exhibit very high levels of each of the value factors – size, shape, luster/nacre thickness, surface cleanliness and rarity.
How can you tell if pearls are Akoya?
For Akoya pearls, you'll mainly notice pin prick blemishes, lighter or darker areas of organic conchiolin build up visible just under the surface crystal, and small, white wrinkles in the surface nacre. Freshwater Pearl Inclusions are mostly dull white "chalky spots" and subtle ridges on the pearl surfaces.
What is the best color of South Sea pearl?
The overall value of these pearls is higher than akoya or Tahitian, and very comparable to white South Sea pearls. The deepest golden color, often referred to as 24 karat, is considered the most valuable color of all South Sea pearls.
How can you tell a South Sea pearl?
How To Identify South Sea Pearls. The main identifier for South Sea pearls is their size. They are larger than any other pearls because they are grown in the largest genus of oyster, the Pinctada Maxima. Their size usually ranges from 8-20mm, although they can grow much larger if they are given more time.
How can you tell a good quality pearl?
Luster is what gives a natural or cultured pearl its unique beauty.
- Excellent – Reflections appear bright and sharp.
- Very Good – Reflections appear bright and near sharp.
- Good – Reflections are bright but not sharp, and slightly hazy around the edges.
- Fair – Reflections are weak and blurred.
Which pearls are the most valuable?
South Sea pearls are considered the most valuable. They are also the largest pearl variety on the market. A strand of South Sea pearls can range from $1,000 to over $100,000.
What is the most expensive pearl?
The most expensive natural pearl ever sold was Marie Antoinette's pendant. It went for $32 million in a 2018 Sotheby's auction.
Which water pearl oyster produce good quality of pearls?
The High quality pearls are generally obtained from pearl oysters of Genus Pinctada that are cultured in the salinity range of oceans. The various species of Pinctada produce different sizes and colors of pearls, varying on the size of the species and the natural color of the nacre inside the shell.
How can you tell the difference between Akoya and freshwater pearls?
Both the Akoya and Freshwater pearls differ mainly in their luster. When comparing the luster, the Akoya pearls have a brilliant superficial luster than the Freshwater pearls. Another difference that can be seen between the two pearls is that the fresh water pearls have thicker nacre than the Akoya pearls.
Do South sea pearls have flaws?
Damaging and Non-Damaging Blemishes
It's important to remember that some blemishes won't detract from the beauty or value of a pearl, and this is particularly true with South Sea pearls. That's because it takes these pearls 2 to 3 years to develop, and flawless or slightly flawed South Sea pearls are extremely rare.
What is so special about South sea pearls?
South Sea pearls are generally much larger than other pearl types and have a unique luster quality – a soft reflection due to the large aragonite platelets that make up the pearl. They also have the thickest average nacre of all cultured pearls. These factors make South Seas both distinctive and valuable.
What is the rarest pearl color?
Naturally colored blue pearls are the rarest pearl colors in the world (with one or two exceptions, which we will get to below). The color has existed in pearls for decades, but only recently have naturally colored blue pearls gained popularity in the modern pearl jewelry markets.
Are South sea and Tahitian pearls the same?
South Sea pearls are naturally delicate pastel in hue and color. They range from being soft white to creamy champagne and pink. Tahitian pearls, on the different side of the spectrum, are bold and dramatic, since the natural color is black.
Why are Akoya pearls so expensive?
The highest quality Akoya Pearls grow in the ocean up to about two years to allow sufficient time for the pearl to form with thick nacre and wonderful luster. The term “cultured pearl” really just means that a human being started the natural process of pearl formation.
What colors do Akoya pearls come in?
Color and surface
Akoya pearls occur naturally in colors such as pink, silver, cream, white, gold, gray and blue. They rarely occur in black, green or other exotic colors — if you see Akoya pearls in these colors, be sure to ask the seller if the color is enhanced.
What does the name Akoya mean?
The Japanese term for natural or cultured pearls that come from the akoya-gai mollusk.
Which country pearl is best?
Japan is the acknowledged leader in Akoya pearl production – known to produce the best, most consistently beautiful Akoya pearls in the world.
Is South sea pearl cultured?
South Sea pearls are cultured using a large, white-lipped oyster, hand-selected from the waters of the South Pacific. The oyster is about twice the size of the Akoya pearl oyster and produces much larger pearls. These luxurious pearls are cultured in Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Japan and Thailand.
What is the price of South sea pearls?
South sea pearls price per carat ranges from Rs 200 to Rs 5,000 per carat Plus.
What are the 4 general types of pearls?
There are four main types of pearls that come in a variety of shapes, colours, and sizes.
- Freshwater pearls. Freshwater pearls are the most common and least expensive. ...
- Akoya pearls. Deemed the classic pearl, these come to mind when you think about the perfect pearl. ...
- Tahitian black pearls. ...
- South Sea pearls.
