Fine pearls are unique, even among other valuable gems. The only gem born inside a living organism, a pearl is truly a matchless gift of nature. A fine shell pearl jewelry is just as nature intended it to be, no more, no less. Unlike diamonds and other gemstones that need to be cut in order to show their beauty, a pearl shines for all from the moment the oyster is opened. This exclusiveness is what makes pearls so special. They are the rarest of treasures, unique in every way.
Akoya Pearls are the Heart of the Sea.
Akoya pearls originate mainly in Japan and China. The oyster that produces Akoyas has the common name of Pinctada Fucata.These pearls range from two to nine millimeters in diameter, averaging six to seven millimeters.They also display a white appearance with a rose hue. The highest percentage of harvested Akoyas are spherical in shape.Due to the consistent size and shape of the Akoya, we often find that this quality of pearl brings forth perfectly matched strands.The ideal akoya shell pearl is one that has the perfect amount of crystals as well as nacre, and is considered to be the most lustrous and beautiful of all pearls.
Similar to the Akoya, the Freshwater cultured pearl jewelry is also native to China. Freshwater cultured pearls in striking artificial colors have been seen on the market since the nineteen eighties. However, this pearl does not derive from an oyster and is smaller and less spherical in shape.The color of these pearls can be unique because their color is based upon natural attributes of the mussel as well as the fact that it can be treated or irradiated to achieve a more desired color.The mollusks that produce these pearls are called mussels.The main producer of the Freshwater pearl is the Hyriopsis Cumingi.Small crops of these pearls are produced in Japan, but the majority of the worlds supply of the Freshwater quality comes from China.China can generate up to fifteen times the amount of these pearls when compared to all of the saltwater and freshwater producers combined mainly because a mussel can be harvested more than once, which results in several pearls at one time. Each of those pearls range between four to eleven millimeters in diameter in size. Seeing that there is such a high quantity of this quality it makes the Freshwater a much more affordable option when compared to the other cultured pearl.