The Akoya pearl farming industry started in Japan. They bred and cultured mollusks known as the Pinctada fucata. With a process called nucleanation the mollusks are implanted with a mix of materials to produce a couple of pearls. The pearls from this particular mollusks are called Akoya pearls.
Akoya Pearls have always been at the limelight of the pearl industry. With their superior luster they often catch the eye of many women. Many people wonder how this type of pearl differs from the others out there.
Nacre
This type of pearls are known to have thinner nacres. Nacre is the material that surrounds the nucleated bead when it is implanted inside the mollusks. This is what pearls are made off and this is also present in the inner shells the mollusks called mother-of-pearl. The thinner nacre on them means that they will wear off slightly faster than other kinds of peals.
Luster
The thin nacre is caused by the colder waters that the pearl mollusks thrive in. Fortunately that coldness also is responsible for the luster that the akoya pearl possesses. No other type of pearl can equal the brilliance of an akoya. Their superior luster has made the akoya one of the most sought after pearls in the market.
Size
Generally speaking most pearls that are sold in the market generally tend to be in the 6.5mm to 8mm size. They are smaller than South Sea Pearls. This smaller size is due to them being harvested sooner than their south sea counter parts. Akoyas generally take about 18 months to mature inside a mollusks.
Shape
This type of pearls appear more rounded than other types. Although it is very rare to get a perfect round shape in any kind of pearl, the akoya produces more of them consistently. Along with its luster, the better shape of the Akoya makes them a very valuable commodity.
Price
People think that pearls are extremely expensive. It may surprise most when they find out that Akoya pearls sell much cheaper than South Sea Pearls. They sell for more than equivalent Chinese freshwater pearls though.
Akoya Pearls can be quite affordable if you know where to shop. Most of the jewelry stores demand too much for them. Sometimes it may cost twice or even three times their real value. Since these pearls are quite exquisite in their luster these shops can often get away with it. You really have to be careful in purchasing pearls in this type of shops.
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